Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Prime Minister, Mr. Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane has called on investors to provide mentorship and financial support to young entrepreneurs for the development and economic growth of the country.
This he said during the breakfast meeting held in Maseru on Wednesday which paved the launch of a three-day Sebabatso Youth Empowerment Forum whose objective is to persuade investors to support youth businesses. Mr.
Matekane said the National Youth Policy provides that entrepreneurship can unlock doors and create employment, saying youth are faced with the challenge of amongst others unemployment, gender-based violence and criminal activities.
He therefore emphasised that they want Lesotho where no child goes to bed hungry, saying entrepreneurship is the source of economic growth of the country.
He indicated that Sebabatso aims to enhance sustainable development for young entrepreneurs, create a platform for youth to showcase their talents and businesses annually and forge collaboration with investors to ensure youth grow beyond borders.
The PM therefore emphasised that Sebabatso is not just a government initiative but a national call for investors to invest in Basotho youth. “Youth are not just our future but our present as they have ideas and skills that can contribute towards the economic development of the country,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mrs. Amanda Khozi Mukwashi said they saw amazing talent and incredible innovation in young people trying to make ends meet during the International Youth Day held in August this year.
She added that she was inspired because the PM visited every stall and said he wanted to see young people together with investors because innovation and young businesses could change the country for the better hence the Sebabatso initiative.
She said hundreds of youth are looking forward to hearing from investors what they will do for them, encouraging investors to support youth. On the other hand, the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) Commissioner General Mrs.
Mathabo Mokoko said RSL has been working together with Standard Lesotho Bank in incubating Youth businesses and have so far brought to live a quite number of youth, adding that they intend to establish a program that would support more youth on how to access benefits and enjoy African market.
World Bank Country Director Dr. Yoichiro Ishihara said it is vital to understand what youth want, saying basotho youth have high aspirations for jobs and education amongst others.
He said the World Bank Program called entrepreneurship Hub supports youth and focus on enterprise organisations which provides services that make entrepreneurship grow.
Meanwhile different investors, heads of diplomatic missions in Lesotho and the private sector briefed the nation on how they are already and will support youth to ensure that their businesses grow.
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