31 Aug 2023

Shortage of serviced land has been identified as one of the factors that continue to discourage investment resulting in slow growth of the local economy as well as unemployment.

Speaking during Moshupa District Council seating on Tuesday, Ms Thato Mononi, District Officer Development, highlighted that during community consultations on District Development Plan, where issues affecting the village were identified.

She said limited power reticulation and high bills, poor road networks, shortage of water and its reticulation, slow land allocation were also some of the factors that discouraged investment, led to unemployment and ultimately slow growth of the local economy.

Low economic activities in the district, she said, resulted in inadequate opportunities for creation of employment, improved livelihood and income generation.

She said one of the key issues also identified was lack of commitment by some farmers who benefitted from ISPAAD, which she said led to low food production at household and at district level, adding that it also led to increased food importation and destitution.

Ms Mononi explained that unfavourable weather conditions resulted in costlier agricultural production as well as reduced productivity.

Recurrent droughts, she said, were a major feature in the district, which led to low crop yields as well as loss in beef production and increased poverty.

Ms Mononi highlighted the need for raising awareness on how the community could be resilient to drought and strengthening of early warning system.

She also said the government had to allocate minimum serviced land and collaborate with private sector in land servicing through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

For his part, Kgosi Oscar Mosielele of Moshupa was of the view that those assisted with government programmes such as ploughing through ISPAAD, should not be engaged in other programmes such as Ipelegeng to afford them the opportunity to successfully look after their fields.

He said some citizens were affected by dependency syndrome, adding that they had to embrace mindset change in order to rectify that.

Kgosi Mosielele implored different government departments to work closely together for the benefit of the whole district. ENDS