27 Feb 2017

Member of Parliament for Bobonong, Mr Shaw Kgathi has expressed passion for youth development hence continued efforts to re-engineer and re-position youth businesses funded through government schemes so that they succeed.

Officially opening the Youth Entrepreneurship and Franchise Conference in Bobonong on February 25 for constituency youth in business, Mr Kgathi said the conference was intended to see youth businesses flourish.

Mr Kgathi. also Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, said government’s assistance to the youth which came in the form of grants and loans was an envy to many countries.

Thus, he advised youth that running a business was challenging and needed one to have patience and be visionary, as they would be met with criticism from their peers.

He said government assisted them so that they could relieve the burden of unemployment.

Bobirwa sub-district council chairperson, Mr Nathaniel Moribame thanked the MP for empowering the youth and encouraged them to work hard, cooperate, respect and support each other.

Trainsol managing director, Ms Kathleen Kayembe said in business there were many failures but one needed to have determination which she said had seen her rise to where she was today.

"I have businesses in Manchester and London in the United Kingdom where I market and promote mateisi (German prints)," she said.

Once a farmer, Ms Kayembe said she had 180 000 broilers, saying confidence was important in business.

Mr John Van Rooyen, an international facilitator from Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa said the constituency was blessed to have a representative like Mr Kgathi who wanted to develop the community and hailed the initiative from the MP’s office.

Mr Van Rooyen stated that youth in Botswana were privileged to have a government that assisted them financially to establish businesses.

He said those interested in franchising should ensure that the business they wanted were acceptable in the country.

He hailed the country for actively developing and promoting policies that supported a dynamic private sector.

Ministry of youth programmes officer, Mr Matlhomola Kebifetswe said 122 projects were funded since 2009.

He said youth were faced with challenges like high rentals lack of marketing and entrepreneurial skills while some businesses collapsed due to laxity and hoped the workshop equipped them with relevant skills. ENDS