MPs audit social protection policies
Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday August 23, 2017 16:13
The 10-day mission will cover areas in Kgalagadi, Francistown, Selebi-Phikwe, Serowe, Molepolole, Francistown and Gaborone, committee leader and chairperson, Buti Billy has said.
The Francistown East legislator told Mmegi in an interview that from observation, he has realised that though government pumps millions annually towards social protection schemes, the expenditure does not tally with the impact on the ground. This is the first fact-finding assignment of its kind, he further said.
“I don’t know if it only happens in my constituency, but this tour will give insight to that; what I have realised is that beneficiaries’ lives are rarely changed by these initiatives. If anything, we are having the same people benefiting from almost all the incentives but their conditions are not improving,” Buti said.
He added that the design of these policies and programmes ought to be revised in order to achieve their objectives of reducing poverty and vulnerability by diminishing people’s exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment and exclusion amongst others.
“These social safety nets do not have long-term rehabilitation benefits, therefore, they haven’t really produced the desired impact,” he added.
The Francistown East MP further said some of these schemes offer short-term solutions. He gave instances of those assisted with catering equipment who are only in business when once-off events like weddings happen.
“It is a seasonal business, and the beneficiaries do not have alternative business ideas in periods they are off season. There is a great need to introduce programmes that change mindsets because poverty eradication begins in the mind,” Billy said.
He said packaging of these interventions has to be such that programmes reflect positive change in the lives of those who access them.
Adding that social workers have been given a mammoth task of evaluating these programmes, advocating for their capacitating so that they can help assist in mindset change as well.
Moreover, he said the Committee, such as the one he chairs, and MPs need to consistently be in contact with beneficiaries to monitor progress as well as short falls of these schemes.
Billy said based on their findings, the Committee will present findings to the November Parliament or early next year. “Recommendations will be made soon, depending on the nature of our findings we will submit them urgently if the issues on the ground are intense and requires to be addressed promptly,” he added.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Governance and Social Welfare is mandated to exercise oversight over departments under the portfolio of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The Committee will meet with district commissioners, council secretaries, council chairpersons, programmes beneficiaries, social workers, Village Development Committees, Non-Governmental Organisations and other relevant stakeholders. The team, comprising of nine legislators completes its mission on September 2.