23 Sep 2019

The Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale, has asked beneficiaries of the poverty eradication programme to work hard to make their projects successful.

Mr Molale said this during Good Hope Sub-district poverty eradication mass packaging and graduation recently.

“Government want to see these businesses grow. They should not remain small forever. Those who were given goats should ensure that the number of their goats double after a year. The livestock should be taken good care of,” he told beneficiaries who included small stock farmers, food processors, washing detergents projects, toilet paper manufacturers as well as leather products manufacturers.

The minister further advised beneficiaries to make quality products that would create a good impression in the market.

He said small and micro enterprises had the capacity to create employment and help to grow the economy.

National poverty eradication coordinator, Mr Montshiwa Montshiwa, said his office had approved 100 applicants from the Good Hope Sub-district this year.

“We have assisted up to 37 002 beneficiaries since the inception of this programme. From the people we assisted, there are 29 504 businesses which are currently operational.

These operating businesses have created employment for 32 500 Batswana. This means that some beneficiaries have employed other people,” Mr Montshiwa said.

He said applications for the poverty eradication projects had continued to increase over the years, with many people wanting to be assisted with farming projects.

Some of the beneficiaries praised the programme for alleviating them from poverty.

Ms Sabina Moyo from Phitshane-Molopo said she managed to escape from poverty after being funded three years ago to operate a bakery project.

She said her business had flourished and she had many clients around Phitshane-Molopo.

“I started with a bakery but decided along the way to grow my business by adding a catering service. My business is doing well and I want to continue developing it by buying an oven to bake more bread,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Ms Moneinyana Mothibi who partnered with five other women to operate a soap manufacturing business, said they were now able to earn salaries every month thanks to the assistance they got through the poverty eradication programme.  

She said they were aiming at growing their products and penetrate the international market. Ends