21 Jun 2020

Faced with high unemployment, residents in rural areas look to Ipelegeng for jobs.

With limited job openings in both government and the private sector, the programme is where people in villages go to for employment.

Kgosi Kebadiretse Kebonemang of Dimajwe in Serowe West constituency said COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the programme.

“The pandemic has resulted in some projects being halted and a reduction in the quota for those to be engaged,” stated Kgosi Kebonemang.

Since the programme cuts across seasons, Kgosi Kebonemang said it created employment and relieved residents financially.

He said the advent of COVID-19 had disadvantaged many in his village because they were now without work.

“They rely on Ipelegeng even though it is rotational,” stated Kgosi Kebonemang.

Now with a few involved in Ipelegeng, Kgosi Kobonemang said some have resorted to livestock theft.

He said unreliable rainfall and human-wildlife conflict were also not helping.

“Elephants terrorise people and destroy crops in Dimajwe and surrounding cattle posts and fields,” stated Kgosi Kobonemang.

He said elephants were constantly seen at Mmashoro, Dimajwe and Mokubilo, and that although wildlife officers tried to scare them away, they always came back and caused damage to crops, boreholes and the vegetation. Ends