06 Aug 2019

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo has commended Boteti Sub-district for clearing poverty eradication programme backlog.

Ms Kenewendo  was speaking during the handing over of packages to 230 beneficiaries in Mopipi.

She said it was commendable to see beneficiaries being trained and given packages at the same time.

That, she noted, was a clear evidence that government cares and prioritises the welfare of its people.

Government, she said, was concerned with the rate of poverty in Botswana, adding that a total of 1 255 beneficiaries had been funded in Boteti region with 950 of them being females while 305 males.

She said that had created employment for 1 275 Batswana indicating that some who had benefitted were doing well and had employed others.

Boteti region, she said had defined its map as it recorded a statement of a future that would be without both poverty and hunger as per the Sustainable Development Goals.

The objective, she said, was to uproot poverty by imploring those whose businesses were flourishing to mentor upcoming beneficiaries.

Minister Kenewendo stated that government had devised strategies to enhance the ease of doing business. 

She noted that trading beef and industrial beef bills were still being drafted.

She said the National Poverty Eradication Policy and Strategy to actualise the commitment to address poverty was being developed.

The national strategy and policy, she said specifically contextualised poverty to Botswana situation in appreciation of a stage in development and opportunities that existed.

She said it also addressed disparities between and within communities across the country and spelled out ways of ensuring responsiveness in the programmes design.

An exit programme, she said, had also been developed to facilitate packaging, support the beneficiaries and ultimately  graduate them from poverty.

Poverty eradication national coordinator, Mr Montshiwa Montshiwa said the number of beneficiaries stood at 37 002  with 32 500 job opportunities created and 29 536 operating projects.

Mr Montshiwa said the objective of the event was to give new beneficiaries packages as well as graduate others who successfully nurtured their projects. 

He said it was also intended to exhibit projects funded through poverty programme.

One of the beneficiaries, who enrolled in the programme in 2014, Ms Basiane Galeragwe hailed the programme, saying it had transformed her life and empowered her to sustain herself.

Ms Galeragwe, who is operating a tree planting project, said she was able to support her family with the income she earns from the business.

Ms Galeitsise Tsidifatso, who is into catering said she fenced her yard, built a house and installed electricity with the money she got from the tenders her company won.

Councilor Matshwenyego Shaka of Mopipi commended the programme for changing people’s lives.  Ends