05 Aug 2015

With the soaring rates of unemployment, the government of Botswana has set up different initiatives to empower young people to start their own businesses.

However, Kgosi Raphael Mmipi of Metsimotlhabe in Kweneng District has decried that young people in his area were reluctant to utilise government initiatives.

Speaking during a youth meeting in Metsimotlhabe recently, Kgosi Mmipi said it is disheartening that young people were dragging their feet to adopt initiatives such as the Youth Development Fund (YDF), poverty eradication scheme and LIMID which aim at reducing their dependence on government.

He said he had observed that young people do not utilise these initiatives with the mind-set that they are meant for certain class of people. 

He also pleaded with young people to shun these negative ideas regarding these initiatives but instead make use of them. 

He said it is important that young people should take advantage at the available opportunities to better their livelihoods through creating employment for themselves and others.

“You ought to meet the government halfway, use these initiatives do not think that because someone else did not succeed you will also fail, whatever you venture into let it be viable and apply your mind to it,” he said. 

Kgosi Mmipi also implored young people to support one another and to be patient and persevere in their business endeavours.

He also encouraged young people who attended the meeting to come up with unique and innovative ideas which could contribute immensely to the economy of this country.

However, Mr Tshweu Moamogwe who attended the meeting expressed displeasure on how shortage of land impedes them to utilize some of these initiatives. 

An aspiring entrepreneur, Mr Tumelo Ntshobotho shared the same sentiments with Mr Moamogwe on shortage of land and decried that officers who were supposed to assist them were not doing so.

Also present at the youth meeting was councillor Kenakgang Oreetseng of Metsimotlhabe who encouraged young people to adopt some of these initiatives especially the Youth Development Fund by coming up and implementing inimitable businesses. Ends