25 Mar 2014

Memeber of Parliament for Mahalapye East, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso says youth should be grouped and encouraged to undertake agricultural projects.

Debating the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC) budget proposal in Parliament on Monday March 24, Ms Tshireletso said the youth should be awarded tenders as some of them had proved to be successful business people.

The ministry, she said, should ensure that there was copyright for material of various artists who performed during the President’s Day’s competitions as some people had a tendency of filming and using the material without permission.

MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi said it appeared that the internship programme was used by some companies to exploit youth as they used them to fill vacant posts in their companies.

He also wanted to know the intended achievement of the revamped national service, noting that the funds allocated for the programme should have gone to the Citizen Industry Trust Fund (CITF) where it could serve a better purpose.

Mr Rammidi condemned the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC), which he said does not know its role and also requested that the long promised Kanye stadium be built. On sports development, he said they country would not achieve anything if it continues to fail to pay teachers overtime to help in sports.

MP for Kweneng South East, Mr Mmoloki Raletobana said youth unemployment was worrisome, adding the country should not be producing graduates who were not relevant to the job market. He said the youth were in Ipelegeng programme in large numbers and said poverty eradication programme should not involve the youth.

Mr Raletobana said graduates were being exploited through the internship programme and requested that emphasis be placed on educating them life skills.

For his part, MP for Gaborone North, Mr Keletso Rakhudu said in promoting performing arts, the ministry should ensure that people with exceptional talent are assisted to record their material.

He said the performing arts create employment and contribute to economic diversification and should be allocated more funds just like sport.

Mr Rakhudu said he wished that the country could have an annual festival where performing arts would be showcased. He however applauded the country for hosting big sporting events saying it helps in promoting the country.

Contributing to the debate, MP for Kweneng South, Dr John Seakgosing said the Toyota 1000 Kalahari Desert Race should continue to be organised around the Kumakwane area as the residents appreciate it.

He called on the ministry to teach the youth about copyright law as artists redo songs from the past without acknowledging the original artists.

They should learn to compose own original material, he added. Kanye South legislator, Mr Abram Kesupile said the youth centre in Kanye should be looked after and raised concern about the Kanye stadium which has long been shelved.

He said the country’s planned 50 years of independence celebrations should be applauded and called for the recognition of Batswana who helped build the country.

On culture and performing arts, MP Kesupile said other dances should be given attention and also appreciated work done at Thapong Visual Arts and called for the establishment of a sculptor park.

MP for Kgatleng East, Mr Isaac Mabiletsa said the programmes at the ministry consume a lot of money without creating concrete jobs, adding that there was need to improve on the quality of jobs created and also suggested that the ministry should benchmark on projects that could help the youth.

Kweneng East legislator, Major General Pheto called for the review of the National Library Service scheme of service for the employees as it does not help the employees to progress.

He said the ministry should help the youth access land and asked for labour markets specialists to look at the possible exploitation of the interns.

The MP for Mmadinare and Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said the ministry should ensure that inters are not exploited, noting that the Rural Development Council could use interns in various projects, which have the potential to help in sustainable livelihoods.

Dr Kedikilwe said building of stadiums in various areas at different phases could help in rural development and applauded the youth who are in various agricultural projects.

Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Arone said young people are faced with many challenges and need to be trained in a way that would help them understand the world better.

He called for the building of a library in Seronga, which is a service centre and also said there was need to develop local languages.

He also called for the building of stadiums in major villages to benefit sport. In response to the MPs comments, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi said he was grateful for the suggestions and advices from MPs.

He said it was not possible to increase the youth grants due to other competing projects for funds. He told Parliament that his ministry was channeling the youth through centres of excellence in order to be able to be competitive.

 Youth funded projects, he said, were doing quality work and have created employment for many other youths.Mr Kgathi said the ministry was also doing well in ensuring that youth with funded projects were allocated land in a short period while monitoring and mentoring of youth is ongoing.

The ministry’s budget proposal was approved on Monday, March 31. Ends