13 Aug 2023

There are at least 29 social welfare and empowerment programmes across nine government ministries, says Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane.

Responding to a question in Parliament from Gaborone Central MP, Mr Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy, Mr Tsogwane said the programmes included a range of cash transfers, in-kind transfers, feeding programmes, fee waivers and public works programmes as espoused in the National Social Protection Framework (NSPF).

He said the framework mandated the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to coordinate the delivery of social protection programmes across sectors over and above their mandate of provision of social protection and empowerment programmes.

The number of beneficiaries per social welfare programme or economic empowerment intervention, Mr Tsogwane said were 137 773 old age pensioners, 9 329 on disability cash transfer, 877 World War II veterans, 68 712 on destitution programme, 24 422 needy pupils, 3 608 children in need of care and 40 682 destitute persons.

Additionally, he said there were 2 991 destitute housing cumulatively or one per household, 907 community home based care and 18 337 on orphan care programme.

For drought mitigation measures and special food baskets, he said there were 1 311 malnutrition hot spot areas for six to 59 months children and 25 236 special food baskets for drought hit areas.

To ensure accountability in the delivery of projects, social welfare and economic empowerment programmes, Mr Tsogwane said the programmes were monitored on a regular basis as provided by the National Monitoring and Evaluation System.

He also said there were social and community development officers and other sectoral extension staff members based at extension area level in all the villages and towns besides assisting and registering beneficiaries. 

“Moreover, monitoring and evaluation is done through political leadership committees such as health and social committee as well as full council,” he added.

To further enhance the impact and success of monitoring and evaluation of various programmes and schemes, Mr Tsogwane said government continued to employ different monitoring strategies such as progress reports, district support visits and mass assessments.

Other strategies, he said were consultative meetings at different levels of management and the establishment of strategic partners for support as well as strengthening result-based monitoring and evaluation through capacity building of staff.

Mr Mangwegape-Healy had asked the Vice President to enumerate on the number of social welfare and empowerment programmes currently offered by government and its associated agencies or departments.

 Gaborone Central MP also wanted Mr Tsogwane to list the number of programmes or interventions and the number of beneficiaries per programme as well as the eligibility criteria for the social welfare and empowerment programmes.

The MP also wanted to know the cost or amount per each programme by government in the last five financial years, and what monitoring and evaluation were in place to ensure impact and progress for the beneficiaries and government. Ends