15 Sep 2020

 North West District Council chairperson, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho has underscored the need to support local businesses to resuscitate  the ailing local economy which has been hit by the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

Opening the full council session, Cllr Ntsogotlho  called on procuring entities both within government and private sector to always consider the local market when awarding tenders in an effort to reduce the effects of the pandemic.

He also called on individuals to always prioritise purchase from local businesses.

Mr Ntsogotlho said the current COVID-19 situation called for all stakeholders in the district to come up with mitigation plans as prediction by health experts were that the disease would last long period.

He also appreciated the opening of a company called Okavango Craft Brewery, which has production in Maun, saying it would assist in employment creation as well as enhance economic activities within the district.

The company produces craft beer from ingredients including local millet and mineral water from the Okavango Delta.

Mr Ntsogotlho noted that the company would mainly source their raw material from local small scale farmers as millet was in abundance in the district.

He said he would also like to see local employment being boosted from the value chains resulting thereof from production.

The chairperson also encouraged other potential business investors with interests in Ngamiland to consider establishing in the district as the are was in need of economic stimulation.

He stated that the district witnessed the collapse of the tourism industry together with its entire value chain, noting that the collapse was a serious blow as many communities relied on the industry.

“As we speak our people have been sent home due to the closure of majority of businesses in the district, a situation that has led to dire unemployment in the district.

Councillors also learnt that the council continued to provide social safety nets to vulnerable members of the community.

He stated that currently 12 572 beneficiaries were assisted under different welfare programmes through the department of Social and Community Development (S&CD).

Mr Ntsogotlho noted that there had been a slight increase, of less than one per cent, in the number of destitute persons in the district as compared to the last full council session in March this year.

The department, he said, continued to experience an increase in number of beneficiaries due to high poverty levels in the district, noting that an increase in number of beneficiaries in various programmes was also anticipated due to the pandemic effects.

The house learnt that S&CD intended to come up with a graduation plan in order to rehabilitate destitute persons in the district.

Councillors were also told that Village Development Committees (VDCs) were affected by the pandemic, as their monthly scheduled meetings were interrupted.

Mr Ntsogotlho said that had impacted negatively on their planned activities hence the need to come up with recovery plans to achieve what they had planned because majority of the VDCs terms  of office were to end during this financial year.

He appreciated the active role played by VDCs during the distribution of the COVID-19 food relief basket, adding that ‘they were also part of the Village Emergency Operation Centers’.

 “Such spirit of patriotism is highly commendable,” he said. ENDS