05 Jul 2020

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has told North East District leadaership that Ipelegeng programme has not been cancelled.

Speaking at a Kgotla meeting in Masunga on Thursday, Mr Autlwetse explained that Ipelegeng was being rolled out slowly following lockdown, contrary to reports that government had cancelled the programme.

Mr Autlwetse stated that Ipelegeng was temporarily suspended in March to adhere to lockdown and COVID-19 health protocols.

The minister said currently, a total of 455 Batswana were employed under Ipelegeng following its resumption and had been deployed at some schools around the country.

He indicated that there was an oversight when scorpions were employed on B2/B3 salary scales. 

He however said that error would be rectified by assimilating them to the appropriate Ipelegeng scale.

Mr Autlwetse said government was in the process of reinventing Ipelegeng to make its footprint more visible in all communities.

He noted that in the past, Ipelegeng built schools, internal roads and government offices to assist in improving infrastructure in communities hence it was imperative to revert to the ancient Ipelegeng that built Botswana.

In his remarks, Minister for Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Tumiso Rakgare said his ministry had so far assisted 481 athletes and creative artists as a way to cushion them from the effects of COVID-19.

He stated that his ministry was mostly affected by the pandemic because many youth make a living out of hosting music concerts while others compete in sport events.

Mr Rakgare said with the pandemic, all public gatherings were suspended resulting in the creative industry feeling the pinch as they had no platform to showcase their talents.

The minister indicated that forms for subsidy were still available at his ministry offices for all those affected by the pandemic to be assisted financially.

He emphasised that Sunday soccer would remain suspended and he therefore advised Batswana to exercise in their own space while gatherings were suspended.

Meanwhile the Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Karabo Gare stated that COVID-19 proved that Botswana as a country could not depend on importing food from neighbouring countries.

He said it was time Botswana produced food locally especially agricultural products that could be planted in Botswana’s vast land.

Mr Gare encouraged Batswana to utilise funding entities and borrow money to start their own businesses in order to reduce the import bill.

He said LEA had introduced a database to register all informal sector players so that government would be able to plan for them.

The minister indicated that government was also in the process of devising a strategy to cater for the creative industry so that they could reap the rewards of their talents. Ends