29 Nov 2018

 Although the department of Gender Affairs has temporarily suspended Women’s Economic Empowerment programme, the department is reportedly monitoring previously awarded projects.

This was said by Kweneng District Council (KDC) chairperson Mr Jeffery Sibisibi at the opening of the fourth session of the ordinary full council on November 26.

Addressing councillors, Mr Sibisibi said that the programme was temporarily suspended to review its guidelines and in due course the general public would be officially notified when the process is complete.

However, he highlighted that there were about 121 projects that were funded in the Kweneng District. 

Out of those, 84 projects were operational while 16 were not doing well and 21 had totally collapsed.

He further explained that the programme was meant to disburse funds to individuals and groups to start income generating businesses that could sustain livelihoods.

In the same breath, KDC chairperson commended the department of Youth for having approved 39 applications of youth projects that had been funded to the tune of P3.8 million in the district while the remaining 72 approved projects were being processed.

Councillor Sibisibi stated that the department had received 575 proposals with a total financial requirement of P59.7 million across the district.  

He said this however reflected a high demand of funding against a limited budget.  

Out of these 575 received applications, 319 have been appraised and adjudicated by the Sub-districts Economic Development Committees and 111 applications were approved at a total amount of P11.2 million.

On other issues, Mr Sibisibi also acknowledged and commended organisations that assisted communities in the district.  

He said the district continued to receive donations and engaged in partnerships with private companies as well as Non Governmental Organisations.  

Recently, he cited, a destitute house in Kumakwane was donated by Christian Assembly Church while the Botswana Defence Force donated a house that would provide temporary shelter to clients on repatriation, victims of violence and disaster as well as abandoned children, among others.

He further appreciated the ongoing partnership between KDC and PPC Cement that involved the running of Mmokolodi Daycare Centre.  

The PPC Cement assists with payment of salaries for teachers.

Presenting the District Development Committee report to the full council, deputy district commissioner - development Mr Kabelo Ntopo said that while monitoring progress made in implementation of government programmes at a strategic level, the committee was disappointed particularly in the education sector with overall academic performance of schools across all levels.

He stated, for instance, that the recent mock exams had painted a gloomy picture for this year’s final examination results as most recorded performance has been below the target.  

He however indicated that primary schools were performing better and might be closer to the set target.

He nevertheless stressed that ‘these results are not impressive in any manner that one may look at’.

One major concern he noted was the high number of drop outs in schools, particularly this quarter.  

He said there were about 211 reported drop outs and 21 of the cases was attributed to pregnancy.  

In total, he said 336 cases of teenage pregnancy were also reported.  ENDS