25 Nov 2013

With only a year after the poverty eradication programme was implemented, it is apparent that some beneficiaries have started to benefit from its alternative packages.

Ms Boipelego Malane of Coloured Newstance and Ms Beauty Kebitsang of Area G who both run catering services attested to this in a media brief on November 21.

The widowed Ms Kebitsang said she started operating last year and had already cleared her Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) house arrears, paid for P12 000 sewerage and managed to bury his father-in-law.

“Ke feditse sekoloto sa ntlo e re mo go yone e, ke kgonne go gokela sewerage ka P12 000 ebile e rile matsale a tlhokafala ga ke ise ke tabogele gope ke adima madi, ke ne ka mo fitlha,” said Ms Kebitsang shedding tears as she spoke about her departed father-in-law.

In thanking government for the programme, Ms Kebitsang did not forget the owner of Area L bars, Mr Richard Cox who offered her space to sell her food.

Ms Kebitsang who sells everyday said she always made a kill on weekends as she usually pockets P1 000 on Saturdays and Sundays, thanks to the patrons of Area L bars.

She did not only put bread on the table for her family but also helped three other families as she employed three other women. Through the poverty eradication programme, Ms Kebitsang also boosts her academic status after she was enrolled for a three months certificate in Hospitality and Tourism at the Francistown College of Vocational and Technical Education (FCTVE).

Ms Kebitsang, who was throughout the interview with media holding photograph of her graduation at FCTVE, said she was planning to build herself at a bigger house. Another beneficiary, Ms Malane said she had three serving points around Francistown and made between P400-P700 daily at each point.

She said she was funded at the tune of P29 000 and employed three people. Ms Malane operated at her in-laws home in Coloured Newstance. Ms Malane said since she started business she realised that there was too much competition in the catering business because everybody could cook but she beat competition because of her cleanliness and reliability to the customers.

Earlier in a briefing, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development official, Mr James Kolagano said there were 1 132 poverty eradication operational projects countrywide and already 302 of them were excelling.

Mr Kolagano said in the 67 settlements under Rural Area Development Programme, 398 packages were given out. He said as a way of improving efficiency of the poverty eradication programme the recruitment of 40 temporary staff was on-going, five trucks had been dispatched to the district and the psycho-social support has been strengthened, among others.

The Press Secretary in the Office of the President, Mr Masego Ramakgathi said there was need to ensure stakeholders and the general public know the progress of the Poverty Eradication programme hence the need to engage the media from time to time. Ends