24 Aug 2015

Government has introduced the youth refunding initiative that will enable young entrepreneurs to create more employment opportunities for themselves and others, Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting he addressed in Manyana on Monday August 24, Mr Masisi explained that under the new scheme, the youth with already existing businesses which were funded by the Youth Development Fund(YDF) will be funded further through CEDA at low interest rates to expand their operations.

He said the initiative came in light of the fact that the YDF ceiling, which is P 100 000, could not sufficiently address youth business growth challenges.

He said he will address youth groups around the Moshupa/Manyana constituency to encourage young people to take advantage of this opening.

Mr Masisi also shared that government will scale up efforts to create employment opportunities especially for the youth.

He mentioned that the Economic Diversification Drive(EDD) policy will be enforced to ensure competitive goods of the same standard as imports, are sourced locally to boost Batswana businesses.

To this end, he has encouraged especially horticultural farmers to register with the ministry when they have farm produce, in order for them to benefit from the dispensation.

Mr Masisi further revealed that government has enacted the new land policy which will extend land ownership rights.

 He was particularly impressed that the policy will enable Batswana to venture into integrated farming, which he explained was not easy before the former was formulated.

“This policy will help our efforts to create employment for Batswana because everything revolves around land, you can’t do business without land,”he said.

On other issues, Mr Masisi also area MP said Bikwe settlement will be incorporated into Manyana village. He said the area was erroneously left out when Tshwaane, Polokwe and Goo-Kodisa settlements were recently recognised.

He also revealed that funds have been secured to tarmac Moshupa-Letlhakane West road, while others around the constituency will be maintained. ENDS