06 May 2019

The MP of Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy, says by failing to attend kgotla meetings, young people deny themselves an opportunity to get first-hand information on programmes that can benefit them. 

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Area S recently, Mr Billy underscored the need for youth to use government  programmes to improve their lives. 

The programmes included the Youth Development Fund (YDF), and Youth Corporative Fund.

He said government came up with the initiatives because investing in the youth was important for economic development.

“Youth are the engine of economic drive. When they are not active, the economy is not active,” he added. 

The legislator also briefed residents on President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s roadmap, which entailed, amongst others, moving the country from a resource based to a knowledge based economy.

Mr Billy said this meant that people would have to be enriched with skills in order to have a meaningful contribution to the economy, hence creating more sustainable jobs. 

He also said the President wanted to see discipline in managing businesses, especially amongst the youth.

That was where why there were several Presidential directives geared towards assisting the youth to run their own businesses.

Meanwhile, Francistown District Youth office recorded a high number of absenteeism by youth attached to the Tirelo Setshaba programme.

Francistown based youth district coordinator, Ms Minkie Bokole, told the meeting that this was a cause for concern for her office and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development.

She told the meeting that most of the youth attached under the programme in her area of jurisdiction were in breach of their contracts of attachment. 

Ms Bokole said most of them only came to work to collect confirmation letters so that they could be paid their monthly allowances and then desert employment until the next month. 

However, she attributed the absenteeism to some economic factors such as their welfare, adding that some of the beneficiaries stayed in catchment areas.

She said the Francistown district had a quote of 760, with a waiting list of 1 700, adding that the district had already enrolled 652 youths.  

In addition, she said most of the youth who benefited from government youth programmes did not pay back their loans. 

Ms Bokole also told the meeting that the youth were spoilt and blamed parents for not playing their role in moulding their children. 

She also raised a concern about the non-utilisation of the Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education. ENDS