16 Jan 2014

Molepolole North MP, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri has urged district commissioners and council secretaries to actively promote government’s poverty eradication and empowerment programmes as a way of increasing their uptake.

Addressing residents of Mankgwenyane ward in January 14, Mr Matlhabaphiri said government was concerned that  few Batswana were taking advantage of government’s empowerment programmes.

“The district leadership should ensure that these programmes are actively promoted to increase uptake. They should also make sure that the programmes are implemented timeously and efficiently,” he said.

Mr Matlhabaphiri, also Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, gave an example of the Chobe District where the local authority was involved in government’s empowerment programmes.

 He commended officers in the Chobe District for overcoming challenges such as shortage of resources like vehicles to ensure that government’s empowerment programme were availed to all intended beneficiaries.

“But it’s a different story in Molepolole because residents continue to complain of poor assistance. The Office of the President has availed resources and funds to ensure that flagship programs like youth empowerment and poverty eradication are a success, but officers still give excuses that they don’t have enough vehicles to assess beneficiaries,” said Mr Matlhabaphiri.

He urged the district leadership to coordinate sharing of resources among departments so that government business is not interrupted. On other issues, Mr Matlhabaphiri implored those who did not register in the first voter registration exercise to do so during the supplementary registration.

He also acknowledged that some parts of Molepolole were still experiencing water shortages even though boreholes at Gaothobogwe and Malwelwe were pumping enough water to meet demands in Molepolole and surrounding areas. ENDS