FMD increases destitution

Pini Bothoko | Thursday March 6, 2014 17:25

Addressing the sub-district council on Tuesday, chairperson Peter Williams said that the depopulation of livestock left a majority of subsistence farmers in poverty and dependent on government assistance programmes.

In 2012, the government slaughtered cattle in Zone 6 following an outbreak of FMD and last year the same fate befell small stock farmers.

Now destitution rules supreme, according to Williams.

He said some of these victims were rearing small stock through the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) poverty eradication programme.

Williams said that the sub-district has a total of 3,902 beneficiaries under the welfare programmes which include 1,063 permanent and 169 temporary destitute persons, 1,088 needy students, 100 vulnerable children, 50 community home based care clients and 1,432 orphans.

“The graduating orphans are registered as needy students hence an alarming increase of beneficiaries under this category.

“Students who do not do well at Form Three and Five continue with their studies at different vocational training institutions and are assisted as usual,” he said.

He was, however, hopeful that since the livestock restocking, there may be improvement leading reduction in the number of beneficiaries.

Williams also noted an decrease in the categories of Orphan and Community Home Based Care (CHBC) due to orphans graduating from the programme at age of maturity of 18.

Also, Williams said, the health status of people under CHBC has improved, leading to the majority being removed from the programme.

“This is indeed a good indication that our people are now taking good care of their health and people are no longer chronically ill warranting them to be registered as CHBC clients,” he said.

He added that under the Destitute and Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) 12 houses are presently under construction.

Each cost P100,000, meaning P1,200 000 has been set aside from this year’s budget to build the houses.

“As part of affirmative action, Mabesekwa and Gojwane villages have been given a total of six houses, three for each village.

“Two of the houses are being constructed in Tonota, with the remaining four in Serule, Foley, Chadibe and Borolong.

“Construction of the houses is ongoing and their statuses are between 13 percent and 93 percent and they are expected to be completed by the end of this financial year, “ said Williams.

Williams said in an effort to improve the lives of local communities, 40 cattle and two bulls were given to eight RADP dwellers.

Four beneficiaries in Gojwane and Mabesekwa were each given five cattle and one bull, which will be rotating within their cattle posts.

“This is not the only thing meant to improve the lives of the local community. Again the Department of Youth will assist six RADP youth who have already been identified and have been admitted to study at Boitekanelo College,” he said.

He said that these students were offered to study Certificate in Public Health as well as Certificate in Emergency Medical Care/Ambulance Services and the department of youth will cover all the expenses.

“This includes tuition fees, uniform, manuals, accommodation and a monthly allowance of P500,” he said.