19 Mar 2019

Southern District Council (SDC) chairperson, Mr Alec Seametso, has encouraged Batswana to rally behind President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and enable him to implement his vision.

When opening the SDC meeting in Kanye on March 18, Mr Seametso said President Masisi needed support in order to succeed.

Mr Seametso likened President Masisi with the Biblical Moses who was appointed by God to save the children of Israel from the shackles of bondage in Egypt. 

Through God ‘strong hand, he said, Moses surmounted all the odds which were stacked against him along the way even from his own people.

“When the President unpacks his vision for this nation especially with regards to land allocation you can tell things are going to run smooth,” he said and consequently, urged Ngwaketse Land Board to up its game. 

He revealed that out of a target of 3000 plots, only 1000 were allocated w. 

He said many of the land surveyors were engaged with the survey work of the national land registration exercise. 

He said more energies should be channeled towards land allocation.

On other issues, Mr Seametso discouraged government departments especially district councils from parading disadvantaged citizens who benefited from government. 

He said doing so was inhumane and against the word of God which called for giving to be done with love and humility. 

He argued that parading beneficiaries reduced them in the eyes of the public and subsequently defeated the spirit of the assistance.

Mr Seametso argued that only figures be announced not the names of the beneficiaries in order to give them dignity. 

In the past he said he watched with pain in hand some of them crying out of self-pity not joy as some would assume when being asked to give a speech. 

He said many beneficiaries felt the pageantry that in the recent past accompanied giving to the poor was intended to demonstrate that they have failed in life.

Mr Seametso further shared that his district continued to do well in assisting needy Batswana through social safety nets such as food rationing, toiletry, transport fares, school uniform, rent, burial services, medical expenses and housing. 

He said they have recorded a slight increase of destitute persons from 15 766 same time last year to 15 930 this year. 

This, he attributed to the fact that graduation from temporary destitution was low in his area. 

He said only three people have so far graduated February this year after being assisted with viable projects. 

He said they would come up with strategies to turbo-charge the rest of the beneficiaries to develop passion, resuscitate their projects and get back on their feet.Ends