Urban Glitz And Glamour Mask Rural Poverty

KAGISO SEKOKONYANE
Staff Writer | Monday September 20, 2010 00:00

 

This became evident once again when Barclays Bank of Botswana was in Moshaneng last week to launch the affordable housing project. The village lies some 20km north west of Kanye and its high level of poverty is not difficult to see. It is rare to see a modern house in the village. Some homesteads have  dilapidated dwellings, hovels or nothing. There are a lot of tents in the homesteads, a clear indication that either the Red Cross or people from the Disaster Management Committee had come to the rescue.

The bank has set aside P1 million to build 32 houses for 30 families with Habitat for Humanity as the implementing partners. Currently 16 houses are under construction. They are expected to be finished by the end of next month. The other batch of 16 will be constructed once these ones have been completed. The 30 families will for the first time enjoy Christmas with a roof over their heads.

Speaking at the launch of the housing project, Vice President Mompati Merafhe said the government is working round the clock to eradicate poverty. He encouraged other companies to emulate Barclays Bank and help the needy, advising companies that it is not worthwhile to operate business in an environment where there is no purchasing power.

He reminisced about his visit to Moshaneng years back when he was a police constable. Then,  he cycled from Lobatse through Kanye, Moshaneng, Moshopa, Thamaga, Otse and back to Lobatse. He said he was happy that he came back to the village as Vice President.

The acting managing director of Barclays Bank, Wilfred Mpai, said his bank has been involved in many other projects around the country. He said all the projects are intended to uplift the lives of Batswana. 

When giving a vote of thanks area MP, Kentse Rammidi encouraged the beneficiaries to take care of the houses and not turn them into shebeens. He said it would not be nice for Barclays Bank staff to visit and find the houses in inhabitable state.