Africa-Press – Lesotho. #Bachashutdown has taken to the streets to campaign against youth unemployment. This
campaign is part of the ongoing struggle for youth capacitation where the youth have engaged the government in advocacy for issues concerning youth, high
unemployment rate being at the fore front. The campaign is dubbed the Unemployed Youth week. This awareness is meant to lessen unemployment especially among youth and runs with the motto: We
are not lazy. We are unemployed. The youth have thus vended on the streets of Maseru from the 3rd– 5th January, wearing their academic regalia. These are some of the strategies to pass the message to those
in power – the government – that they address their needs. #Bachashutdown Chairperson Thuso Leina revealed to Informative Newspaper that their motive is to make the
government aware that the youth are stranded and are in need of jobs in order to survive. He said wearing the academic regalia is a demonstration that they
are work ready; they just need the government to create opportunities where they will generate their own jobs. “Our aim is for the government to address the issue of unemployment which has turned
out to be a serious issue that needs attention because it has come to be a “need”. We are not saying the government give all of us jobs but we are simply urging
for it to create platforms where we would create jobs for ourselves,” he noted. Leina further reflected that this is the second year since #Bachashutdown petitioned
the government, urging for inclusion of youth and their consideration in the National Strategic Development Plans (NSDP). The petition was directed to the
Prime Minister, Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation and the Minister of Social development on November 06th 2020 but to this day none of the ministries have given a response nor have shown a sign of approval
in the matter. While giving his side, #Bachashutdown President Tumelo Moteuli shared that they want to have a youth council established. He mentioned that if the government
could create conducive environment where the youth would be able to create their own jobs then the high rate of unemployment would reduce and most of them
would have alternatives to survive. He said if ever the government does not answer their plea they will continue to campaign until they are heard, saying
every Monday is earmarked for campaigns going forward. “Our main focus is not to sell but as our motto states; We are not lazy, We are unemployed we just need the government to create an enabling environment where the youth of this country could showcase their talents, strengths and ideas and create a better future for themselves,” he said.
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