Speaking during a budget analysis meeting organised by BOCONGO, speakers said that issuing food baskets to beneficiaries is not a sustainable measure to deal with poverty.They said government may cease to provide such goodies when it runs out of money or during economic meltdown.Pastor Israel Keletso said there is still a chance for government to review anti-poverty programmes to economically empower people rather than just give them food. "The idea is good but the problem is implementation and giving out food is not viable. Government must identify natural resources in each and every area in the country and money allocated to programmes like backyard gardening be invested in developing those natural resources to economically empower the community.Batswana need sound projects that will be profitable for communities to be self-sustainable," he said.
He said even the Ipelegeng programme on its own is a food basket that cannot improve the economic status of beneficiaries. He regretted that the voice of the church is never recognised and it is difficult for ideas from the clergy to be considered in formulating government policy.Another speaker complained that Botswana imports a lot of goods from other countries like fresh produce from South Africa and there are no plans to curb this to protect local producers. "There is no commercial land though programmes like young farmers fund are good. Selebi-Phikwe region has a lot of water and government should consider dividing land into paddocks and lease it out for commercial farming and rearing. There is no such provision in the budget. Poverty eradication programmes do not address the situation on the ground let alone our education system," he said.
