Africa-Press – Botswana. Youth have been implored to take advantage of low-hanging fruits in government programmes and policies to transform their lives and meaningfully participate in growing the economy.
Speaking during a youth engagement session on the sidelines of the Polka Festival in Tsabong on Saturday, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Mr Tumiso Rakgare said since youth were the heartbeat of the nation, it was critical to round them up and discuss pertinent issues regarding their welfare.
He said the ministry’s budget allocation of over P1 billion for the financial year 2024/2025 would help address youth unemployment challenges, gender inclusivity, culture, and sport development.
So far, he said the ministry made achievements on youth mainstreaming and driving youth development agenda as per the Revised National Youth Policy of 2010.
He told young people that Botswana had been lauded for its robust youth empowerment programmes and policies at the Youth Connect Summit in Ghana.
Minister Rakgare encouraged the youth to emulate those who made Botswana sparkle internationally by excelling in various sectors.
He cited the current Miss Botswana, Lesego Chombo, who is making it at the ongoing Miss World beauty pageant in India.
He said the motorsport sensational, Ross Branch recently hoisted Botswana flag high attaining position two at the Dakar Rally international stage.
On athletics, he talked about World Athletics champion, Letsile Tebogo, who recently broke the world record.
He further said the country took pride in women’s football team as well as self-made comedian William Last.
He also advised that excellence could only be achieved if there was a mindset change towards building entrepreneurship capacity and embracing change as a necessary ingredient for economic sustainability and development.
A young farmer from Omaweneno, Mr Kelekile Mokolope expressed optimism about participating in growing the economy though faced with challenges that impeded prosperity such as lack of land ownership.
He said lack of land ownership primarily caused the youth to be slow to act and participate meaningfully in the economy.
Ms Reneilwe Tebele from Maubelo decried ineffectiveness of implementation of programmes and policies targeted at youth development.
For his part, Kgalagadi South MP Mr Samuel Brooks encouraged relevant government departments to embark on outreach programmes in line with youth affirmative action.
He encouraged the youth to think outside the box and do things differently to improve their lives.
He asserted that the tourism sector in the Tsabong District was endowed with employment opportunities for the youth, adding that 11 tourism sites were recently identified at the Kgalagadi Transformer Park, where the youth would benefit.
He encouraged the youth to explore different sectors of the economy and exploit available value chains.
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