20 Feb 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says he has no problem with direct allocation of farms to deserving citizens as long as such recipients fully utilise the farms.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Khekhenye in Letlhakeng Sub-district on Thursday, February 20, President Khama said some people occupied farms that they did not optimally utilise, adding that the practice defeated government’s goal of achieving food security and reducing imports.

President Khama also commended Batswana for the spirit of compassion, saying it had the potential to build and unite the nation for a better future of its citizens. This was after one farmer, Mr Piet Villander donated 25 sheep and 25 goats to the poverty eradication programme.

During the meeting, President Khama donated 20 chairs for use at the kgotla, 20 blankets, 20 shirts as well as four Bibles.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele informed residents that the radio sets that the government promised the elderly would be distributed next week.

Mr Siele said the exercise took long because they wanted to ensure that they procured quality and durable radio sets. He said the supplier was expected to deliver the consignment on February 20 before distribution to the 9 918 country-wide recipients next week.

He also informed residents that the construction of a kgotla office in their village would be considered when the economy improved. He noted that the challenge of lack of offices was not only restricted to their village.

He said they would consider constructing the offices through Ipelegeng as it had been the practice throughout the country.

For his part, the Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing said plans were underway to construct 200 staff houses in certain parts of the country, adding that in the meantime, nurses should be encouraged to share.

Dr Seakgosing said although the Khekhenye Clinic had no electricity, it had been provided with a gas operated refrigerator for critical services such as blood sample storage.

Still at the same meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Christiaan De Graaff said they were having a challenge of procuring small stock for poverty eradication projects due to the ongoing restocking of the North East District that had been ravaged by the Foot and Mouth Disease.

He said all poverty eradication recipients would receive their stock as soon as the ministry completed the restocking of the district.

The Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Mosanki Kaithoma had earlier complained that owing to lack of power in the village, the health profile of Khekhenye residents was compromised. He also said their kgotla needed office space and he also enquired about radios that had been promised the elderly.

Mr Kaithoma also complained about the lack of a vehicle and accommodation at the clinic. He said only four out of 26 beneficiaries under the poverty eradication programme had received their small sock. ENDS