11 Mar 2015

BOCCIM president, Mr Lokwalo Mosienyane, has urged the youth to utilise various government programmes such as the youth grant scheme, the internship programme and young farmers’ fund.

Delivering a key note address at the Gaborone mini youth pitso on March 5, Mr Mosienyane said the youth should use platforms such as Pitso to network.

Mr Mosienyane encouraged the youth to fully use the government programmes while there was still time, because youth age came only once in a life time. “You will never be youth again, make the best of your youth now,” he said.

He said every year, about 40 000 people were estimated to enter the labour market, but only 10 000 jobs were created annually, hence the need for the young people to work hard and strive for excellence. Mr Mosienyane cited some of the world’s biggest companies that started small such as Microsoft, saying it started its operations in a room.

He said it would be a failure or weakness on the part of the youth if they shun working in business owned by their former classmate or age mates.   He said, “BOCCIM helps to facilitate business networking and also offers business management advisory services,” adding that it would continue working with the youth.

Gaborone deputy district commissioner, Mr Lesang Kgomoetsile said the desire to hold the mini youth Pitso was motivated by factors such as unemployment, alcohol abuse among the youth, lack of global competitive advantage and lack of youth indulgence in HIV/ AIDS activities.

He said the objective of Pitso was to give a platform on issues that concern the youth and draw a road map that would improve the youth livelihoods. Mr Kgomoetsile challenged the young people to set themselves goals to be dreamers who would compete globally. ENDS