15 Mar 2016

The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture has been urged to build more sports facilities around the country in order to help sport grow.

The request was made by Members of Parliament (MPs) when debating the MYSC budget proposals for the 2016/17 financial year worth P952.7 million. The budget estimates were presented by the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Thapelo Olopeng .

The MP for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said a stadium should be built in Letlhakane to serve the needs of sports people in his constituency. 

“The area around my constituency is blessed with sporting talent, but we do not have facilities which they can use,” Mr Lelatisitswe said. He added that a piece of land has already been identified for the stadium. 

Mr Lelatisitswe further asked for the construction of a youth centre in Letlhakane and public libraries in Mosu and Mmatshumo. He also urged the ministry to consider stationing qualified sports coaches in government primary schools to coach pupils from a tender age.

Another MP who asked for the construction of sport facilities was Major General Pius Mokgware of Gabane-Mmankgodi. He said a mini-stadium should be built either in Gabane or Mmankgodi to service sports people in his constituency. 

 Maj. Gen. Mokgware also said the government should build mini-gyms across the country to promote wellness among the public. 

Furthermore, he asked the government to build public libraries in rural areas to provide a platform for access to information and knowledge.

Maun East MP, Mr Kostantinos Markos suggested the ministry should build a world class sports stadium in the Okavango Delta to promote sports tourism. 

He said sports tourism was a lucrative business that could bring a lot of benefits. 

He also urged Mr Olopeng to find a piece of land for youth owned enterprises in his constituency.

Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao said more sports facilities should be built around the country. He also said the MYSC should look into the school of excellence programme because it does not seem to be effective.

“The schools of excellence have not produced enough sports people who can take over from the current stars. The ministry should make it more effective,” he said.

Mr Molao also urged the ministry to re-look the internship programme issue, stating that there were allegations that private companies use the programme to exploit the youth.

 He said companies keep youth as cheap labour under the internship programme instead of employing them even when there were job opportunities.

In response, Mr Olopeng assured MPs that his ministry was working on a plan to construct category C stadiums in all districts within the next five years. 

He said category C stadiums include a pitch with artificial turf, ablution facilities and seating area made of scaffolding. 

He also said they would evaluate the internship programme to close all loopholes for abuse. Ends