25 Aug 2013

Government has been commended for addressing the problem of load shedding and empowering its citizens through the poverty eradication programme. 

Satellite South Ward Development Committee (WDC) deputy chairperson, Mr Kedisaletse Mapini said this during a kgotla meeting addressed by Francistown East MP, Mr Phandu Skelemani. 

Mr Mapini noted that during the period of load shedding, many retailers incurred losses because of spoilt produce.

On poverty eradication, he lamented it was not easy for most of the residents of Francistown to benefit from the backyard garden as their plots were too small.

He suggested that the city council should consider allocating open spaces along the rivers for beneficiaries to start backyard gardens.  

The MP, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, advised his electorates to form cooperatives to improve their livelihoods.

Mr Skelemani said the last session of parliament debated the Cooperatives and Society Bill and he was optimistic that should the residents form cooperatives,  they could utilise them in the implementation of the gardens funded through the poverty eradication initiative.

He said societies can be formed by  10 members and should be registered.

Mr Skelemani explained that by registering agricultural cooperatives, production of vegetables in the country could be improved. He said it was important that residents recognised government efforts geared towards empowering them. 

He however informed residents that such programmes were not permanent solutions to unemployment, and as such the government was continuously strategising on how the problem could be addressed.

On issues concerning his ministry, Mr Skelemani said Japan gave Botswana a P4 million grant for the implementation of analogue to digital migration for television.

He refuted allegations that Batswana would be expected to buy Japanese-made television sets but said any set could be used as long as it was digitally compliant.

On other issues, the minister said the government had requested 100 doctors from Cuba who will be posted to hospitals around the country.  ENDS