05 Nov 2013

Some councilors in the North West District have expressed displeasure about an increase in the number of beneficiaries supported by the council under the social welfare programme.

They expressed frustration when responding the to the chairman’s speech which indicated that the number rose from 4 891 to 5 019. They learnt that the most significant increase was under the needy students, which grew by 11.3 per cent from 1 095 to 1 235 beneficiaries during the course of the year.

The chairperson, Mr Galaletsang Mhapa, also indicated that the increase in the number of destitute persons was modest at 1.4 per cent while the growth in the number of orphans and Community Based Care (CHBC) patients was insignificant.

He said the overall increase of the needy students was a result of the effects of drought and restrictions of livestock movement protocols which led to some parents failing to sell their cattle hence unable to support their children. Councillors said they expected the number to decline due to the introduction of poverty eradication programme which aimed towards empowering many communities to build productive and sustainable livelihoods.

Cllr Moetetse Mogalakwe said the initiative had made progress in eradicating abject poverty in many districts through comprehensive social protection programmes and poverty eradication projects, all which enabled people to live dignified lives.

He said he wondered why the number was increasing in their district while the initiative provided good projects and alternative packages. He questioned if the programme was well implemented in the district. Cllr Mogalakwe also complained that assistance towards orphans staying with their grand mothers had been stopped.

Cllr Kitso Ngande also shared same sentiments, noting that they were hopeful that poverty eradication programme would make a big difference to reduce the numbers. He questioned the importance of the poverty eradication dipitso, noting that they were informed that beneficiaries would at the end be able to make well-informed decisions on project of their choice.

Cllr Botshelobokae Ramasu said there was slow implementation of poverty eradication programme noting that some beneficiaries had long been trained but they were not assisted. She also noted that water shortage was a challenge to backyard beneficiaries.

Mr Mhapa had said there was need to do more to encourage the community to venture into other economic activities in an endeavour to support their families since cattle rearing was proving to be a major challenge in Ngamiland as a result of ailing markets.

He called on councilors to continuously advocate for poverty eradication initiatives to ascertain that this numbers were reduced and eventually achieve the Millennium Development Goal, which call for the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. ENDS