Africa-Press – Botswana. Last week, Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Hon. Lesego Chombo, held a consultative Kgotla meeting in Ghanzi following the Youth Business Exposition in the district. The engagement focused on Youth and Gender-Based Violence legislation, drawing attention from community leaders and residents. Minister Chombo emphasized that the ministry’s key goal is to create jobs for young people while addressing the alarming cases of gender-based violence in the country. She highlighted the connection between youth economic empowerment and reducing vulnerability to GBV.
During the meeting, Hon. Chombo shared ongoing initiatives by the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs aimed at achieving these dual objectives. She highlighted the upcoming Youth Employment Strategy and Youth Mentorship Programme, which will be launched in 2026 in collaboration with Business Botswana. These initiatives are designed to provide mentorship and support for youth-led businesses, enabling them to compete effectively on a global scale. The minister underscored that the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme remains central to creating sustainable opportunities for young people.
Community members raised several concerns during the consultative session. Key issues included the need to explicitly include widows in GBV legislation, more rigorous oversight of religious institutions, and enhanced protection for GBV whistleblowers. Minister Chombo assured participants that their feedback would inform future policy development and strengthen protective measures for vulnerable groups. The discussions reflected a strong community commitment to addressing gender-based violence while fostering youth development.
In attendance was the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. Noah Salakae, who is also the area MP for Ghanzi. Hon. Salakae expressed appreciation for Hon. Chombo’s initiative, noting the importance of following up the Youth Business Exposition with community engagement. He commended the minister for taking time to meet district leadership and for promoting collaboration between the ministry and local stakeholders. The meeting underscored the government’s commitment to combining economic empowerment with measures to tackle GBV across the country.
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