Africa-Press – Botswana. Serowe District Council chairperson, Mr Keneilwe Monageng has decried project delays due to non-responsiveness of an expression of interest, which was floated twice.
Mr Monageng, who was officially opening Serowe District Full Council meeting on Monday March 4, stated that the council had plans to maintain Rural Area Development Scheme (RADS) hostel facilities for Malatswae and Sehunou.
“Due to this challenge, contractors domiciled in those villages will be invited to tender and hopefully we will succeed.
Vetting of the document is ongoing,” he said.
He further said the maintenance of Serowe main kgotla and staff houses was also ongoing, adding that the tender would be advertised and the works should not take long to complete once started.
The chairperson urged project managers and all stakeholders to work round the clock to complete all the projects that were ongoing.
He warned that failure to complete may result in failing to secure any more funding for future projects.
Concerning youth development, Mr Monageng said for the current financial year 2023/2024, the district had approved a total of 39 projects at an amount of P4 565 000, as such training was ongoing for those who had been awarded projects.
He said from the 39 funded projects, 17 beneficiaries were trained in business management and record keeping in Mahalapye, adding that the remaining 22 beneficiaries, who were into smallstock and beef production were to undergo training at Lobu farm in Kgalagadi.
Councillors were told that through training, beneficiaries would be equipped with both practical and life skills to adequately enhance performance and success of their businesses.
“With the 92.23 per cent increase budget for the Youth Development Fund, one would expect the above or the current budget to almost double and expect more youth to benefit.
I wish to encourage the youth to use this opportunity, as it may never come again.
Setswana sa re o le aramele le santse le go tlhabetse’’, he said.
Mr Monageng noted that the provision of safety nets to the vulnerable groups in the district was doing relatively well and that the adoption of the coupon system had instilled a sense of dignity to the beneficiaries.
He said the power of purchase in coupon cards needed to be followed by empowerment of beneficiaries to realise that the success and positive impact of the Welfare Programmes had been placed in their responsibility.
He encouraged shops with Point of Sale devices to ensure that beneficiaries had value for money by maintaining the same prices of the commodities for sale.
The chairperson further stated that the facing-off of bank cheques had not hampered service delivery in the welfare programmes as the council adopted mobile phone payments for those without bank accounts.
“Currently there are 4 479 registered and assisted beneficiaries across the spectrum of welfare programmes.
There are 2 096 permanent destitute persons, 72 temporary destitute persons, 1 134 needy students, 179 children in need of protection, 68 Community Home-Based Care patients and 930 orphans.
He also said the council undertook a mass assessment from December 4-10, 2023, whose main and attained objectives were to eradicate the backlog of people awaiting welfare assistance while assessment of beneficiaries would continue to be monitored on a weekly basis.
He said rehabilitation of destitute persons to exit welfare programmes was a primary exercise that sought to eradicate the dependency syndrome on such programmes and ultimately reduce its bill.
He added that rehabilitation and ultimate graduation from destitution programme was low, noting that the success of the identified beneficiaries would be a pilot project for the district to embrace.
He said due to budgetary constraints, the council was currently targeting only six beneficiaries.
Two beneficiaries will do crocheting while the other will manage a small stock project.
They will be given their packages as soon as they complete training.
daiylnews
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
