Africa-Press – Botswana. A week into 2024, many youths are already streaming into Gaborone in search of employment.
Press could not help but notice a lot of such individuals carrying brown/white envelopes and pocket files, during the past week, some in search of school opportunities but for most, a job hunting mission.
Ms Maiketso Goarabilwe, 34 who trades at the bus rank, said jobs did not come easy nowadays, but all was not lost since there were government programmes that the youth could apply for or alternatively, self employ.
She suggested that government shift focus to vocational training since white collar jobs were in short supply.
Incorporating entrepreneurship as a subject at primary school level she said would pay great dividends in future.
Ms Goarabilwe challenged families to start viewing sectors such as agriculture and creatives in a different light because they were job creation contributors.
“Imagine if all people were like the Zezuru tribe.
They perhaps remain the richest in the country because they do not depend on anybody to hire them, but start businesses of their own,” said Ms Goarabilwe.
Things have not been easy for 30- year-old Mr Nkitseng Loeto, who not only blames unemployment as the root course of social ills such as crime and drug use among youth, but also reckons it undermines their potential.
Mr Loeto said each year, he joined people queuing at the Department of Labour, hoping to get a job.
He said all kinds of people went there and it was now no longer about qualifications or work experience, but the sheer hope of getting a job.
The problem of youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb because many are desperate, Mr Loeto said, adding that there was a huge population of educated people who went for years searching but without any luck.
This, he said, eroded their quality of life and was taxing on their mental wellbeing.
Getting employed in today’s world is a daunting task and the prospects of getting a job are slim, regardless of educational background, Mr Loeto said.
His cousin, Ms Peggy Loeto, a second year student at the University of Botswana, said unemployment rate in the country unsettled her.
“I do not know if what I am studying is going to help me. I have my doubts, I am not motivated as there is no good reason to go to school, if one cannot find employment after struggling to pass,” said Ms Loeto.
Ms Loeto, who desires to be a teacher one day, said her fear was to end up not working. “So, what is the use of going for further studies?
I might as well be a shop assistant like others with Degrees, but are struggling,” said Ms Loeto.
As for Ms Kenanao Reteng, she reads frustration among youth, emanating from lack of employment opportunities, which she said strained not only one’s economic aspect of life, but other areas as well.
Ms Reteng said time and age were catching up with her as she had desired to acquire certain things, but without a job, it would be impossible.
“At the age of 35, it is disconcerting.
I am no longer considered as a youth and the fact that I do not have any formal experience, makes matters worse,” she said.
She said she feared bringing a child into this world because she would personally not be able to take care of it.
Being unemployed, she said made some people too desperate and others so angry that they resorted to violence and substance abuse.
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