28 Apr 2020

 North East District is experiencing a sluggish progress in distribution of food baskets due to shortage of food supply from wholesalers

Speaking to BOPA, North East District Council secretary, Mr Motshwariemang Matseka attributed the slow progress to a high demand of food supply from Sefalana wholesaler.

Mr Matseka highlighted that many shops had an agreement with Sefalana to acquire food on credit, hence leading to a high demand for the wholesale.

He stated that the demand was unconventional and overwhelming for the wholesaler, in that many shops were requesting food supply for people affected by lockdown.

The council secretary stated that majority of villages in North East started receiving their food basket over the past weekend, adding that some shops had reported shortage of food supply from wholesalers in Francistown.

However, he said Fours wholesaler in Francistown had on Monday agreed to supply shops with food on credit, which he said would help speed up the food relief distribution.

Mr Matseka pointed out that some shops and tuck shops that acquired food by buying cash from different wholesales were doing well in ensuring a sufficient supply.

He indicated that 125 shops and 98 tuck-shops in all 43 villages had been awarded offers to supply food.

Mr Matseka said the food baskets ranged from P670 to P2 100 depending on the size of the households.

He stated that the food basket budget for the district was estimated at P15 million for 14 657 beneficiaries.

He highlighted that council would also source food from schools, upon realizing that there was abundant supply when schools were closed.

He noted that there was an ample supply of vegetables in North East except for onions, adding that farm produce was also scarce with maize and water melons having dried up.

He explained that Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had permitted councils to engage small trucks in villages to transport food baskets, which he said would help expedite the distribution. ENDS