25 Mar 2014

Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri has commended Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture for the interventions aimed at empowering youth.

Debating the ministry's budget proposal, March 24, he said a considerable number of youth had benefitted from the interventions such as Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) and Youth Development Fund (YDF), which he said had removed them from remaining idle.

Mr Matlhabaphiri further commended the ministry for consulting MPs in their respective constituencies to help in identifying and assisting in youth projects. He, however, implored the minister to assign youth officers to visit youth project for mentoring and monitoring, especially those in remote areas.

He also said he was delighted that finally the youth would be allocated some land portions for their respective projects. Tonota South legislator, Mr Pono Moatlhodi called upon the minister to ensure there were measures in place to ensure that the youth who benefitted from YDF and other programmes paid back the money.

“”This is a revolving fund, not a grant,” he said. He said he has realised that there was lack of commitment on the youth and that lacked continuous monitoring and mentoring. Mr Moatlhodi further called for prompt payment of constituency tournaments referees and participants as well as a youth officer to augment the current two officers that manned the entire constituency.

Shoshong MP, Mr Phillip Makgalemele asked about the commitment of other ministries in assisting youth, noting that so far, only the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology was the only ministry involved in engaging youth in its projects.

He also advocated for higher allocations in instances where youth group themselves for a project. Palapye MP, Mr Moiseraele Goya asked the minister to consider increasing the money allocated to Youth Development Fund, noting that the P120million was not enough.

He also said he feels constituency tournaments have achieved the mass participation that was intended, and advised that it be reviewed and that part of its money be used in YDF.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando asked the ministry to pause and evaluate the programmes because the returns were not visible, arguing that an alarming number of youths remain idle at home.

He said government was increasingly becoming desperate and throwing more money towards problems of youth unemployment, without reviewing the impact of the programmes. Mr Saleshando said underemployment was also worrisome. He said graduates with Bachelor’s degrees were engaged in unproductive and meaningless activities such as police special constables.

“The minister hardly talks about impact of these programmes,” he said. Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi regretted that youth projects were struggling and that some have collapsed. He suggested that youth should be grouped and be engaged in bigger project with enough funding.

South East South MP, Mr Odirile Motlhale called for an integrated sports facility in his constituency. He also argued that the ministry should consider making the Citizen Economic Empowerment Law that will also advocate for a portion of 30 per cent of tenders/projects spared specifically for women, youth and people with disabilities. Ends