26 Apr 2020

North East District Council on Saturday, April 25 commenced the distribution of food baskets to beneficiaries affected by the extreme social distancing.

The distribution exercise begun in Tsamaya and Themashanga villages while distribution in other villages in the district started Sunday.

In an interview, North East District Council Secretary, Mr Motshwariemang Matseka said by weekend a total of 10 out of the 43 villages in the district were ready to distribute food packages.

He indicated that 14 200 beneficiaries in the district were to receive food baskets.

He stated that they had noticed that during the registration exercise conducted by social workers some households were not assessed because the residents were at farms.

Mr Matseka highlighted that food distribution process was a continuing process that could not be completed quickly because many people were affected by the lock down.

He stated that social workers would continue visiting families within villages to close gaps that could have been left out during the initial registration.

He explained food quantities would be distributed according to the number of people in each households as it varied from household to household. 

The council secretary stated that only shops within the locality of beneficiaries were engaged to sell food to council adding that they had experienced a shortage of food staff due to the fact that many of the supermarkets were supplied by one big retailer in Francistown.

He said the council had sourced food from supermarkets, tuckshops and even farmers for horticultural produce.

Meanwhile Mr Matseka said a total of 331 households received food in Tsamaya while 403 had registered in Themashanga.  Ends