06 Nov 2013

Some North West District councilLors have called on the government to work closely with Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) beneficiaries by empowering them economically to improve their living standards.

They appreciated efforts made under RADP livestock provision but requested that government should take into consideration that livestock needed water and land for easy management. Councillors were commenting on a briefing that over P300 000 was allocated for the provision of livestock to 16 beneficiaries under RADP. The council was informed that the settlements to be covered included Khwai, Mababe, Somelo and Phuduhudu.

Four people from each settlement would be given five cattle. However, councilors said for the programme to benefit beneficiaries, it would be wise for the government to address issues of land and water before beneficiaries could be given cattle.

Cllr Pelokgale Monyame of Kubung ward wanted clarification on why the number of cattle had been reduced to five adding that since the inception of the programme in 1972, each person was given 15 cattle.

He revealed that remote area communities continue to be the most affected by poverty and were increasingly becoming dependent on government welfare support. Cllr Kebareditse Ntsogotlho of Khwai/Savuti said there was need to sensitise the beneficiaries about the importance of RADP programme, adding that the programme should benefit people who live in villages and settlements which have no social amenities. 

The programme assists in provision of social services including education and health, provision of physical infrastructure, water and the expansion of economic opportunities. Cllr Ntsogotlho called on councils to spearhead the local empowerment and poverty eradication programme to improve the lifestyle of the beneficiaries.

For his part, Cllr Moetetse Mogalakwe of Makalamabedi South praised the government for providing livestock for RADP beneficiaries but called for proper monitoring and supervision to ensure the programme produce the expected results. He said most RADP projects are not successful because of lack of monitoring and supervision citing the dairy project at Somelo which has collapsed. ENDS