10 Nov 2016

Diamond revenues are main drivers of the high economic growth that Botswana continues to experience, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Thapelo Olopeng, has said.

In his address at the Botswana diamond conference in Gaborone on Tuesday (November 8), Mr Olopeng said following the discovery of minerals, particularly diamonds, coupled with prudence in their management, the country began to experience an increase in government revenue.

“Today, Botswana has registered an impressive economic growth and development, which led the country being classified as an upper middle-income country,” he said.

Furthermore, the minister acknowledged government’s efforts to empower youth in the 50 years and encouraged players in the mining sector to consider working with youth businesses in the mining sector.

“Lack of youth involvement in the mining sector is robbing us of future strategies and youth innovation that can further grow the diamond industry,” he said.

Government of Botswana, he said had also taken affirmative action to empower the youth. For example, he said “just recently, a 29-year-old youth was sworn in as a Specially Elected Member of Parliament, adding to the many youth in political offices as councilors.”

Additionally, due to his ministry’s Youth Development Fund, Mr Olopeng said there were many successful youth entrepreneurs who were chief executives or managing directors of their own companies ‘and stories of how these youth started their business are intriguing and sobering.’

Over and above funding youth ventures, Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development minister said youth were also enjoying a number of exemptions ranging from Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board certificates registrations to purchasing tender documents and quotas in government tenders.

“They have been allowed to use open spaces around the city to actualise their ideas. We also have youth empowerment and development programmes in place, some of which will be unveiled early next year when we launch our new ministry,” he added.

He encouraged players in the mining industry to work collectively with government, through his ministry, to mentor youth into successful entrepreneurs, as government alone could not fully empower and develop the youth. He also urged them to consider affirmative action, by investing in youth innovation and enterprises.

“Your performance as the mining industry will only be sustainably maximised when you invest in supporting young people. They have the potential to support your future industrial needs, and they are a potential solution to this country’s high unemployment rate,” said Mr Olopeng.

The benefits of his ministry’s partnership with the mining sector, on youth empowerment and development, Mr Olopeng said were anchored on a long-term relationship, whose focal point was common interest and shared goal.

“Working together will enable us to produce desired results amongst the youth. In the future, we will all look back with smile at the remarkable partnership that produced young millionaires,” he added. ENDS