15 Jul 2020

The Ipelegeng Programme has not been discontinued but will instead be improved to become a labour intensive public works programme for maintenance of public facilities.

This was revealed by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Eric Molale told a media briefing in Gaborone on July 14.

He explained that the programme was minimally continuing in some parts of the country and was only suspended temporarily in other areas to ensure  adherence to COVID-19 protocols as it attracted a large number of people.

“We had to err on the side of caution, rather than to endanger people,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Molale said the ministry was actively looking into making improvements on the Ipelegeng programme with a view to making it more productive.

He said in every village, there were artisans who could be hired to maintain public facilities with Ipelegeng employees employed as labourers.

He said the envisaged improvement was intended to include maintenance of public facilities, implementation of village development projects and enhancement of village infrastructure.

“I urge Batswana to be patient,” he stated.

Meanwhile the contentious matter of paying COVID-19 pandemic Scorpions at B3 Scale has been resolved.

The Scorpions, hired to enforce COVID-19 protocols countrywide, were employed at B3 salary scale  instead of the Ipelegeng Programme  rate.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele that the 2 683 people, who were hired countrywide, would now be temporarily absorbed within the ministry and councils.

Initially the Scorpions, a consequence of COVID-19 outbreak, were not budgeted for, hence payment of their salaries would be met from possible savings from several programme budgets, including the Ipelegeng Programme, he said.

Mr Modukanele said the ministry was currently searching for vacancies within headquarters  and district councils to see where the Scorpions could be absorbed.

He said the absorption would be done depending on the age of a vacancy.

Those not absorbed would be paid from part of the Ipelegeng Programme budget as the bulk of it was not used due to the COVID-19 outbreak, he said.

He said the Scorpions’ salaries for the 10-month period they would be engaged for cumulatively amounted to P172 718 125. ENDS