Poverty remains high in rural areas - UNDP Chief
Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday June 23, 2015 15:12
During her visit to the country last week, during which she also attended the just ended Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Clark, said despite the country having made enormous progress in reducing poverty, slashing it from 50 percent from 40 years ago to 19 percent, the situation in rural areas remains a challenge.
“The country’s progress has transformed living standards for many, with poverty rates declining over the past 40 years from 50% to around 19% today. However pockets of poverty remain particularly in rural areas,” she said.
Clark pointed out that while the reduction of poverty have been noted in urban areas, majority of men and women in rural areas still live below the national rural poverty line subsequently overshadowing the country on being a progressive nation. She said that in her observations, she found out that people from rural areas who are from or near mining and tourism areas were not benefiting as compared to those in urban areas, despite being the custodians of the natural resources. “People from the mining and tourism areas are crying for not benefiting from the resources from their areas, and here I see lack of empowerment.
“The government has to empower its people for betterment of resources that can benefit them in the long run,” she said.
Clark said that the country, being an upper-middle income country has made considerable domestic resources available for development, but it doesn’t mean that development challenges and poverty have gone away.
“Developed and developing countries alike can never stand still, and must continue to strive for more progress and improve the living standard of its people,” she said.
She noted that with the country, being one of the fastest growing economies in the world and also that it stands out as a country with good governance and successful macroeconomic and fiscal policies, it should also strive to eradicate poverty, especially in rural areas.
Clark further said the country was well known for its wildlife conservation, which was critical for its growing tourism industry and for sustainable development, therefore it should ensure that major contributors to economic growth such as the diamond and tourism industries benefit the country and its citizens.
“The Government of Botswana is well aware of the challenges and opportunities before the country and UNDP looks forward to continuing its strong relationship with the government, including on incorporating the forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals in the national agenda,” she said.