14 Aug 2013

To realize Vision 2016, all must stand up and play their roles especially in helping eradicate abject poverty, members of Maubelo Poverty Alleviation and Housing Project have said in consensus.

The 21- member group initially started with 13 members in May 2007, but was later joined by eight more in November 2008. 

Ms Gabaitsane Tebele, who is a member of this project, says initially when the project was introduced to them a large number of Maubelo residents had shown interest, but in the end most people had not taken advantage, possibly due to lack of patience, said Ms Tebele.

She said later on a group of eight people approached them requesting to join in the project and they were considered their request as they deemed unnecessary to be selfishness.

Further, Ms Tebele said the group was beneficial as it has now increased membership and in turn, manpower which has contributed to high levels of production.

Now consisting of 21 members, the group cooperatively works together towards attaining its objectives under the auspices of the Self Help Housing Agency.

Another member of Maubelo Poverty Alleviation and Housing Project, Ms Gladys Gasejewe, described their project as entailing brick moulding. “We offer a variety of bricks in terms of size,” she said, adding that of each brick size their production ranges from six hundred to eight hundred bricks on a daily basis.

Among other things the team prides itself of consisting of members who have brick moulding and Book Keeping education and experience. “Our training was sponsored through the poverty eradication scheme, which aims at helping us to acquire productive skills and manage income generating activities, “said Ms Gasejewe.

She said in the beginning it was not easy as they doubted the potential of the project. “However, we stood firm in patience and perseverance and nowadays the business is performing well, exceeding our expectations as we offer quality and affordable bricks,” she said proudly.

Mr Onalenna Motlogelwa, another member, said they supply private individuals and those funded by SHHA, adding that, although competition is high in Tsabong and surrounding villages, they have been able to overcome it through their quality bricks and prompt services.

Mr Motlogelwa said their project is challenged by supply delays because the demand for their products is very high and they therefore need to deliver prompt services. However, sometimes the shortage of material makes it very difficult to meet the demand,” he said.

Lack of transport is another problem that gives the project anxieties as their competitors take advantage over with their logistics to deliver the products, Mr Motlogelwa said.  

Ms Tebele commends the local SHHA office for its support saying it stretched a helping hand towards their project as all the transactions are done at their office including financial activities such as auditing”, said Ms Gasejewe.

Ms Tebele also expressed overjoy for the project as it has helped them to graduate from both unemployment and poverty, adding that the project has also sheltered many people in Kgalagadi South and has made the housing process through SHHA swifter.

“Kgalagadi South inhabitants financed by SHHA are no longer challenged by delayed building processes caused by shortage of bricks as our project promptly supplies,” said Ms Tebele. 

The acting Technical Officer Poverty Alleviation Housing Project, Mr Tina Mothusi Kgosimolao, said the SHHA office is involved in the management of the Maubelo Poverty Alleviation and Housing Project.

“Our office coordinates their project and it has been very helpful for the project as funds are well allocated and administered, he said, adding that the office is also responsible servicing and repairs of the project’s machinery and supplies of relevant material,” he said.

 Mr Kgosimolao further stated that the involvement of his office has helped beneficiaries to graduate into home owners as they deduct a certain amount of money from their wages towards building their own homes without having to loan money from SHHA or any other financial institution.

“Deducting money from the beneficiaries’ wages for sheltering them has produced invaluable results and this is proven by the fact that already seven members of the project own houses; “he said.

The acting Technical officer also said they pay beneficiaries in accordance to their workload, and this has elevated productivity to greater heights as workers try to outclass each other for higher benefits.

“In addition, our office also helps in strategic management of overcoming competition and multiplication of sales,” he said, regretting however, that Maubelo Poverty Alleviation and Housing Project is challenged by the lack of transport for delivery.

In a bid to help them to stimulate their sales SHHA awards them the tenders of supplying bricks for the turn key houses and SHHA funded houses, pointed out Mr Kgosimolao. However, it does not mean they disregard other brick moulding businesses. “We also award them tenders to supply bricks”, he said.

Mr Motloelwa stated that currently they are not a big profit making business as yet, but in future they would like to expand their products and services country wide. “In future we intend to make a service package that includes brick supplies, architectural, construction, quantity surveying, electrical and plumbing services,” he said hopingly.

 The beneficiaries could not stop praising the government for its benevolence on the nation of Botswana by providing empowerment schemes. They also urged Batswana not to sit back and lament about the crisis they are facing but should rather utilize the schemes.

Finally, the group urged Batswana to live the country objective of eradicating poverty by 2016, saying they can only attain it through making use of the empowerment schemes. ENDS