15 Aug 2013

Following government’s sensitisation drive, 193 people in the Shoshong constituency indicated interest in the poverty eradication programme between the time of its inception and the end of June 2013.

Responding to a question in Parliament from the MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Dr Gloria Somolekae, said, however, based on the assessment, 179 people qualified for assistance.

She said as at June 2013, implementation of the 179 projects had commenced and they are at different stages of implementation. Regarding the extent to which both the Economic Diversification Drive and Local economic development policies were applied when tenders for these projects were awarded, Dr Somolekae said government was still compiling information in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

MP Makgalemele had asked for the total number of registered beneficiaries under the poverty eradication programme in the Shoshong area as at end of June 2013 since the inception and the number of different projects approved.

The legislator had also wanted the minister to state the extent to which both economic diversification drive and local economic development policies are applied when tenders for these projects are awarded.

Meanwhile, assistant Minister, Somolekae also told Parliament that in Hatsalatladi and neighboughood, 449 residents indicated interest in the programme between November 2012 and May 2013 and they were assessed.

She said 41 qualified for assistance and as of May this year, four projects had started, one of sewing and three, of backyard gardens.

Dr Somolekae said projects given to beneficiaries is a process dependent on time and when the beneficiaries can undertake in depth technical training, the procurement processes of government, the time of supply of the materials to enable the project  to operate. She said her ministry and the rest of government are doing their best to address the implementation bottlenecks as they arise.

Kweneng East MP, Maj. Gen. Moeng Pheto had wanted the minister to state how many poverty eradication applications have been approved for Hatsalatladi residents between November 2012 and May 2013.

He had also wanted to know the number of approved projects assisted and those who have started as well as reasons for delay in assisting approved applicants. Ends