25 Jun 2013

Youth in the Okavango area have been urged not to be a burden on their parents, but instead utilize government schemes for self employment and uplift their lives.

Okavango Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Bagalatia Arone said this in kgotla meetings held at Shakawe, Kajaja and Tsodilo.

He said self employment was the best option for the young generation that will create jobs for themselves and stop flocking to towns looking for jobs.

Mr Arone complained that most of the youth depend on their parents or government, instead of striving and contributing to achieving sustained economic growth of the country.

He observed that most of the youth do not benefit from government policies because they lose hope and disappear when advised to make some corrections on Youth Development Fund (YDF) forms in order to get money.

Mr Arone said they end up engaging themselves on anti-social activities such as crime, alcohol and smoking abuse.

He urged the youth to commit themselves for their own future and be patient when applying for such schemes, so that at the end they achieve what they want.

“Young people should bear in mind that the future is today not tomorrow, as tomorrow will be the history, therefore you have to struggle and build your future while there is still time,” he emphasized.

The MP also called upon parents to play a leading role in encouraging young people to use government policies in order to improve the standard of their lives.

Furthermore, he praised youth officers in Okavango for a job well done on sensitizing the youth about the fund as well as some other departments in the area.      

He stressed that it is important for all public officers to play their role of sensitizing the youth on government policies

Furthermore, Mr Arone said youth matters should be every Motswana’s concern as there was need for spirit of patriotism and commitment by all stakeholders.

He said there is need to come up with innovative ways of improving the youth issues so that they can effectively address the plight and aspirations of the young people of the country.

Earlier on, some young people complained that since Shakawe sub-Land board has temporarily stopped allocation of plots, this hinders them to engage on business since they do not have plots.

 Meanwhile, Ms Mathata Mokolobetsi informed the MP that about six people in Tsodilo attended Nyeletso lehuma pitso at Chanoga hoping to be helped with the money so as to start businesses and applauded government for the initiative.

Chukumuchu/Tsodilo social worker, Ms Reetsang Bamookile also urged young people to shape their future while they are at the early stage because there is nobody who could do so on their behalf.  

 She stated that youth should expect more challenges on their way and they should accept them as life is a long journey. ENDS