Africa-Press – Botswana. Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs will not allow double-dipping of programmes under its fold so as to allow for a wider outreach and benefit to the populace, says Assistant Minister, Mr Ignatius Moswaane.
Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Bobonong, Tuesday, Assistant Minister Moswaane said double-dipping of programmes, especially old age pension and Ipelegeng, would harm the already ailing economy and hamper the fulfilment of the aspirations of the Umbrella for Democratic Change-led government.
“I’m saying this as an assistant minister in this ministry that double-dipping won’t work for us and, I challenge all against weaponising this decision, but support us so that we can attain all our electoral pledges to Batswana,” said Mr Moswaane.
The assistant minister was responding to calls by some residents who complained that despite benefitting from the raised P1 400 old age pension, some senior citizens still wanted to be roped into Ipelegeng to augment their wages to the disadvantage of the unemployed persons who should be trying their luck in the latter programme.
While unambiguous about the decision, Mr Moswaane, who is also Member of Parliament for Francistown West, asked the residents if they indeed supported the ministry’s decision against double-dipping to which he received a resounding ‘Yes’ followed by an applause.
He said paying pensioners old-age pension meant that they should not engage in taxing activities as undertaken in Ipelegeng but, stay home and tend to home chores.
“But there is an ongoing tussle by politicians against the decision. Some politicians want to weaponise and milk this decision for political gains,” said Mr Moswaane and explained that some decisions needed to be taken in order to cater for all that needed help.
“Let there be an understanding by all that under this prevailing ailing economy, government can’t afford to fulfill all programmes that have some financial obligations attached to them,” he explained.
However, the assistant minister explained that the P1 800 old age pension would increase with passage of time until to a point when senior citizens would walk home with P2 300 before 2029 elections.
He also assured residents that the UDC-led government would fulfill its electoral promises like paying old age pension from the age of 60.
Also, the assistant minister said, government would eventually increase Ipelegeng allowance to P2 500 when it finally changed shape and form to public works programme. Again, Mr Moswaane said, government would raise student allowance from P1 900 to P2 500 when the economy recovered. Moreover, the government will improve conditions of service for public service employees, Mr Moswaane said. On other issues, the assistant minister explained that the new village development committee guidelines would required the members to be apolitical amongst other things.
He also informed residents that government was hard at work consulting over National Development Plan 12 and invited all to partake in the national exercise.
“We didn’t just ditch what we found in place but, we are working on a plan that we can be judged and gauged on in these five years of our tenure and that plan should bear the aspirations of this government to its people,” said Mr Moswaane said.
Source: dailynews
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