17 May 2020

Minister of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Dr Edwin Dikoloti has commended Mr Satar Dada and the Muslim Youth Movement for donating 300 food parcels to relief Tsoaneng residents affected by COVID-19 extreme social distancing.

Handing over the food parcels to Tsoaneng residents on May 16, Dr Dikoloti hailed the two for their spirit of volunteerism and heeding the call to assist residents, adding that their donation would augment government efforts.

“The food will go a long way in addressing the challenge of food shortage in the village,” he said.

He commended government for alleviating hunger through the COVID-19 food relief initiative.

He, however, said more help was needed to supplement government efforts.

“The Southern District Council has assisted our community with food, but we are aware that it is not enough due to the fact that children eat continuously when home,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to Mr Dada and the Muslim Youth Movement for addressing the challenges that people were facing.  

He also acknowledged the Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation for assisting with linkages in securing the donation.

“I would like to further extend my gratitude to the representative of the Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation, Ms Matshidiso Masire for the critical role she played towards facilitating the process,” he said.

For his part, Muslim Youth Movement chairperson, Mr Ridhwan Dada said they were grateful to be accorded the opportunity to assist those in need.

“God has afforded us an opportunity to share what we have with the community and it is a blessing. We are trying to show kindness and uplift the community affected by COVID-19, as we believe that we are in this struggle together and we will come out together,” he said.

Good Hope Sub-council principal community development officer, Ms Mary Mathuba noted that the village had a population of more than 500 people.

She said they had so far assessed 165 households out of which 150 were assisted.

She said the major challenge they faced was that people were absent from homes and had gone either to the lands or cattle posts.

Ms Mathuba said the parcels would go a long way in addressing food challenges in the village. ENDS