18 Sep 2013

Government is committed to helping communities in rural areas through the Rural Development Council (RDC).

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said when addressing Kang residents on September 17 that government was committed to restoring income generating projects and encouraging communities in rural areas.

He explained that one of the responsibilities given the RDC was to ensure that all income generating projects in the country especially in rural areas were revived and put on a sustainable foothold.

The Vice President, however, expressed concern over poor performance of many community projects. He noted that many projects collapsd not because of lack of funds, but due to poor business management and lack of skills.

He added that another challenge facing business in Botswana was auditing. Residents of Kang were implored to take advantage of the abundant natural resources in their area; especially crafts and processing of wild fruits.

Dr Kedikilwe also updated the residents on the SHAA and Youth Development Fund (YDF) programmes, saying records showed that about nine people in Kang would benefit from the SHAA programme in the near future, while 71 were still on the waiting list.

He said already five people had been assisted through the turn key programme, with six houses waiting to be handed over to six beneficiaries. He added that another 61 applicants were on the waiting list. For YDF, the Vice President explained that at least 10 people applied for the programme.

Kgosi Morabeng Phori of Kang noted that the youth in the village were faced with shortage of land to take up sustainable livelihoods projects. He decried shortage of land in the village, saying the village was growing at a high rate. BOPA