18 May 2020

About 18 667 households out of the 22 817 that were assessed in the Palapye Administrative Authority (PAA) since the commencement of the lockdown have been recommended to benefit from the COVID-19 relief food packages.

The sub-district has 27 villages, Palapye inclusive and more than 17 000 households accounting for a population of more than 87 000 residents.

PAA senior assistant council secretary, Mr Lucky Maoto told BOPA on May 14 that 13 798 families had been assisted with food baskets through government supply scheme and 707 families received immediate relief through food baskets donated by different businesses in the region.

Mr Maoto said in Palapye alone, 10 830 homes were screened and 7 876 were recommended to benefit from COVID-19 food baskets.

He said so far 5 019 households received food packages from government social welfare programme while 664 received immediate relief packages from the Palapye business community. Distribution of COVID-19 food baskets is still ongoing in the region.

On other issues Mr Maoto noted that the council had received concerns regarding food baskets distribution.

He cited that they had realised that some households had been disadvantaged from benefiting.

“There were cases whereby at the time of assessment, a vehicle belonging to a relative employed elsewhere and not living at the premises was found at that particular household or the homestead gave an impression that the family was well off and did not qualify for the aid,” Mr Maoto said.

He said because of such, assessing officers disqualified people leaving them stranded during difficult times but added that council authorities were looking into such matters with the intention to rectify them. ENDS