Government Shortchanges Matsetsenkane

Tefo Pheage | Monday January 11, 2016 14:18

 

The government had promised to pay Matsetsenkane P700 each, but  P50 was deducted from each member’s offer without any consultation.

The more than 30 Matsetsenkane, who were taken on the controversial trip, are expected to have cost government over P150,000 for their sojourn in Okavango.

 The group was put through training and counselling by Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, and Botswana Institute of Rehabilitation and Re-Integration of Offenders (BIRRO).

BIRRO is an organisation largely made up of ex-convicts and is headed by one committed and rehabilitated ex-convict, Mothei Sejakgomo from Serowe. Although open to the media, Sejakgomo declined to speak to The Monitor about the trip saying the details could only be disclosed by the government.

“Owaii! Rona nne re thusa hela Bagaetsho. Ministry ke one oka arabang dipotso tsotlhe (We were only assisting, the Ministry. I am sure only they can answer questions you fielded),” said Sejakgomo.

Several Matsetsenkane group members confirmed that they received only P650 from the government further saying that this is despite the promise of P700.

An official who spoke on condition of anonymity within the ministry said despite the trip being a success and having re-energised the group to pursue their dreams, it was unfortunate that the group experienced such pay-cuts.

“We want them to see that we care about them and want them to trust us and what we are doing with them, but if we renege on our agreements with them it is unfortunate.  I hear they were not happy with the cut, but more saddening is that BIRRO was given P5,000. How do you take an organisation out for weeks and compensate it with P5,000? That’s pathetic and very discouraging,” he said.

He added that he understands that the ministry has plans to monitor Matsetsenkane’s rehabilitation process and offer assistance where possible. Matsetsenkane, who formed a football team, are said to have also complained about an incomplete football kit that they received from the ministry.

As one of the strategies to keep them away from undesirable tendencies, the group, with the help of the Okavango programme facilitators, unanimously agreed to form a football club to ‘terrorise’ Kweneng teams.

The group argued that the idea is noble, but the kit would not help them because it is incomplete.

“We don’t have money to buy soccer balls and boots,” said one of the former gangsters. They said that they do not believe that the government cannot afford even the cheapest soccer boots.

The youth ministry’s permanent secretary, Louis Malikongwa said the Matsetsenkane issue is sensitive and would not be discussed with the press.