19 Mar 2014

North West District Council (NWDC) is to spend over P7 million in 189 projects for the second phase of the poverty eradication initiative.

The council chairman, Mr Lathang Molonda said during a full council meeting that 64 beneficiaries had been trained and procurement was on-going. “We cannot deny that we have moved at a slow pace but the department is fast tracking the implementation of the programme”, he said.

He acknowledged that there were challenges faced in the implementation of the programme, citing lack of operational space, indecision by beneficiaries on project selection, limited suppliers and limited training facilities in the district.

Mr Molonda said efforts were continuously being made towards the achievement of the initiative, adding that initially the council had a funding of over P2 million which had been used to fund 61 projects.

On other issues, under Remote Area Development Progreamme, Mr Molonda said the council was allocated P572 000 to cater for four households in eight settlements. He said each package included five heads of cattle.

Mr Molonda noted that 23 out of 32 households have already received their heifers in Somelo, Phuduhudu, Gani, Chukumuchu, Tsodilo, Gudigwa and Xaixai.

He said quotations for supply at Tobera, Qangwa and part of Phuduhudu were at evaluation stage hoping to have supplied before end of March this year.

The chairman further said 181 employment opportunities had been created in ten RADs settlement. Residents were engaged in cluster policing, refuse collection and game scouts.

He also revealed that the council was constructing 31 houses in all the ten RADs settlements in the district. He said as for the financial year of 2013/14, 23 houses have been allocated to RADs and construction has started. Mr Molonda also informed the house that RADs students have been enrolled in various institutions of high learning such as GIPS, Botho, Maun Technical College and institute of Health Sciences.

“As a district we are more than delighted to see these developments in our RADs as they will address the previous imbalances experienced within our communities”, he added.

Efforts to ensure a reliable water supply in the district are continuing to bear fruits, he said while noting that in Maun, water supply in terms of reliability and quality had improved.

“This improvement is a short term intervention that was meant primarily to address the current water shortages thanks to the recently awarded Maun Water Supply and Sanitation Phase II project,” he said. Ends