31 Mar 2014

It is important for people to understand fully why government established the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC), permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, Ms Ruth Maphorisa has said.

Speaking at the BNYC annual general assembly on March 28, Ms Maphorisa said that would enable the organisation to achieve its mandate. She told the assembly that the BNYC was created to advice government on all matters pertaining to youth activities and to guide, encourage and plan youth activities in Botswana.

Thus, she said, it was important for the BNYC leadership to have a full understanding of its objectives to avoid distorting them for their own interests. Ms Maphorisa also said it was important that the organisation take the lead in educating young people on the provisions of its policy and playing an advocacy role in ensuring that different stakeholders delivered on strategic areas.

She also noted that BNYC funding was going to change, adding that the ministry was undergoing a restructuring exercise which will greatly affect all the agencies, including the BNYC.

“From the exercise, functions are going to be streamlined to ensure that more money goes into youth programmes as opposed to salaries,” she said. Government had for the 2013/14 financial year, provided over P13.5 million subvention out of which about P8.2 million was spent on operational costs and programmes.

Again, Ms Maphorisa said part of the restructuring would look at the structure of funding to the affiliates while the current funding has created entitlement where some of the affiliates expect to be funded regardless of their performance.

She however noted that starting from the 2014/15 financial year, funding will be based on key performance indicators to be given to the BNYC by the ministry. Further, she said the ministry was also working on the BNYC Bill which would seek to, among other things, reconstitute the council in recognition of the changes that have taken place over time.

Particular significance at the BNYC assembly was the election and appointment of the BNYC executive committee members. Mr Louis Sibanda is the new BNYC chairperson deputised by Mr Boniface Disho. ends