21 Sep 2020

Botswana Cooperative Association (BOCA) has built a two-bedroomed house worth about P200 000 for a needy family in Mosetse. 

Speaking at the handing over ceremony recently, Director of Cooperatives Development, Ms Moipidi Nkoane commended BOCA for taking a step towards uplifting the livelihoods of the family of Mr Batengesi Phuthego, who is visually impaired. 

Ms Nkoane noted that BOCA was affiliated to the African Union (AU), which has Agenda 2063 that aims to see to it that every person’s livelihood needs are changed for the better, across the whole continent. 

 She said the AU would like every member state to achieve these goals, adding that as Botswana did not want to be left behind, it had Vision 2036. She emphasised however, that input from all Batswana and other stakeholders such as BOCA, was needed for Botswana to achieve these goals. Ms Nkoane called for all partners to come on board with different initiatives and plans to help boost and revive the country’s economy, especially with the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, which the government was battling with and economists were anticipating a drop in the growth of the economy. 

Furthermore, she highlighted that the pandemic had made it clear that a lot of things that the country had been importing could be produced locally, to help reduce the import bill. 

She added it was thus imperative for Batswana to take advantage of the situation and produce goods often purchased from outside. This, she said, would boost the value chain as well as increase employment opportunities. 

The director expressed disappointment at the cost of house, which was initially P95 000, when it was planned for back in 2016 but because only 36 out of the 236 cooperatives across the country contributed towards the project, it was shelved for some time.  

She said the delay led to increase in cost, hence four years later, the project ended up costing P200 000, adding that this should be a learning curve for them.

Give a briefing on the project, BOCA’s Mr Smarts Shabane said annually they celebrated Cooperatives Day by doing something significant for someone in need, in the place that hosts them during the commemoration, hence they chose the Mosetse beneficiary. 

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Opelo Ntshwarelang of Mosetse lamented the time it took for the project to be completed, revealing that because the beneficiary went through a torrid time during Cyclone Dineo, the village leadership had to intervene for the project to be completed. 

Kgosi Ntshwarelang said this time, they called on BOCA to finish the project before the rainy season started. Ends