Over 7,000 backyard gardens underway

BONIFACE KEAKABETSE
Correspondent | Friday March 29, 2013 00:00

 

He said this when officiating at the poverty eradication Pitso here on Tuesday. Khama said to date, 1,129 backyard gardens projects have been completed while 792 are under construction.

Khama also said the rollout is ongoing for 5,729 beneficiaries under alternative packages of the poverty eradication programme. He said the programme aims at ensuring those living in poverty graduate from it to embark on the road to wealth creation and dignity.

The president explained that individuals could only be dignified if they are decently housed, fed and able to clothe themselves. He said the workshop, which was attended by 1,000 beneficiaries from Ngamiland was the fifth of its kind held by his government since 2012.  Khama said after the Chanoga Pitso more than 5,000 Batswana would have enrolled in basic training in management to equip them with skills to manage their enterprises.

He noted that during the workshops participants are equipped and empowered with basic life skills covering among others, mindset change, business planning, financial literacy, product packaging, branding and marketing strategies.

The president said following the workshop, beneficiaries would be enrolled in more technical programmes at various institutions to ensure that they have sufficient skills to manage enterprises.

He said afterwards, participants will receive packages to start their businesses. Khama also revealed that a package has been developed for those building destitutes houses using the Kgalagadi Sand Brick.

He said the innovation by the Botswana Technology Centre (BTC) would drastically reduce the cost of building houses for the destitute. 

Meanwhile, Khama revealed that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the republics of Namibia and Malawi would usher in the sharing of strategies, structures and processes which will aid the three countries to win the war against poverty.

For her part, Malawian President Dr Joyce Banda stressed the need for African governments to learn from each other and share experiences and benchmark on ways to eradicate poverty.

'While agencies as the World Bank bring expertise and financial resources, we need to share knowledge and experiences and to benchmark best practices,' she said. President Banda praised Botswana for being a best case model when it comes to utilisation of its natural resources for the benefit of its people.

Dr Banda said Malawi aims to learn from Botswana as they are currently focusing on their own poverty eradication initiatives.  She said when she assumed power, Malawi was near economic collapse due to economic and political weakness.

She said her country could not meet foreign exchange requirements for the importation of fuel and other raw materials needed for the production of goods and services.

Dr Banda said she made the economic recovery of Malawi her priority. Sectors such as agriculture, energy, mining, tourism and infrastructure have been identified for Malawi's economic recovery, she said. 

The three-day poverty eradication pitso ended yesterday and was officially closed by Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe.