18 Feb 2019

 

Poverty Eradication Programme beneficiaries have lauded the programme for improving their economic status.

Giving testimonies during the National Poverty Eradication Expo in Gaborone on February 15 they said the programme had restored their dignity.

One beneficiary, Ms Tshegofatso Mapetu of Lehututu in the Kgalagadi District  said the 15 goats she acquired through the programme in 2015 had since multiplied to 76.

Ms Mapetu said she managed to acquire and equip a borehole to water her small stock and that she was currently running a mini butcher.  

Ms Mapetu said she also bought a vehicle using her profits.

One beneficiary from Mochudi, Ms Renolda Seloisi, said she was assisted to start her beading jewelry business and that from her profits, she managed to build herself a three-bedroomed house. 

She said she diversified her business to start a tuck-shop since the beading business was seasonal. 

Meanwhile, the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, said the expo accorded beneficiaries an opportunity to learn various ways in which they could grow their businesses.

He said the platform also offered an opportunity for beneficiaries to find ways of diversifying their products and services as well as to explore ways in which they could mutually benefit from each other.

“Poverty eradication projects operate in the same market with other players. Therefore, it is essential that from time to time we expose them to the major stakeholders such as yourselves,” he said.

Mr Molefhi said the development of the National Poverty Eradication Strategy would ensure a clear path towards addressing poverty in the country.

The expo displayed a spectra of exhibits from 45 different packages under the programme, the small to medium scale machinery, fish farming and Kalahari sand brick projects amongst others.

A total of 30 beneficiaries graduated on February 15 bringing to 2094 the total number of those that had so far graduated since inception of the programme in 2011. 

Poverty Eradication Programme has created 28 635 jobs from the 26 000 businesses funded under the programme since its inception. ENDS