24 Jun 2015

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC), Mr Thapelo Olopeng, has called on youth to take mining sector opportunities seriously.

Officiating at the Youth Pitso for the northern region on Tuesday (June 23), Mr Olopeng said his ministry was working with the mines to establish how the youth could be partakers in the sector and when opportunities were availed, the youth must take them seriously.

He said youth should be mindful that the mining sector was the driver of the economy and failure to take it seriously could lead to the collapse of the economy.

He said Botswana had grown to become the world’s largest producer of diamond by value and the youth should penetrate the sector through creative and innovative ways to explore untapped avenues such cutting, polishing and jewelry.

He said his ministry is working with other sectors such as those of tourism and agriculture to survey what opportunities are in existence for the youth.  He said youth should be willing to go out of urban areas and look for wealth in the rural areas through agriculture and tourism.

Mr Olopeng said although his ministry is trying everything possible to assist youth they should not become spoilt but should work very hard to become investors of international standard. He assured youth that his ministry is flexible with funding operating businesses that can finance the economy of the country.

In her welcome remarks, Francistown Mayor, Ms Sylvia Muzila implored the youth to operate businesses that could not only employ them but could also employ other people.

She encouraged youth not to despise any job opportunity that they could get in the mining sector in order to get experienced. 

She observed that experience requirement in the mining sector was still a major challenge for the youth.

Ms Muzila also noted that the biggest challenge in the region was the unemployment of youth; a factor that she said is in some instances worsened by the youth’s tendencies of looking down on some jobs.

MYSC permanent secretary, Mr Lewis Malikongwa said the objectives of the Pitso were to encourage youth to venture into business related to mining, tourism and agriculture as the sectors still had potential.

Mr Malikongwa said through the Pitso, youth will have opportunity to share ideas and experiences with those who have already penetrated the sectors.

The theme of the Pitso was: ‘Mindset change, A key to a creative innovative and vibrant youth’.

The Pitso was preceded by a bonfire which accorded the youth to showcase their dance and song talents.

 It also gave the youth from the Central, North East and Francistown districts opportunity to share their diverse cultures.

One of the speakers at the bonfire, Former Tatitown Court President, Ms Ludo Mosojane called on youth to embrace the principle of Botho as it is through it that they could unite despite their age and cultural differences. ENDS