01 Sep 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says small businesses can create employment.  

Speaking at a kgotla meeting at Ditimamodimo ward in the Serowe North East constituency on August 29, President Khama said people should desist from the belief that only big companies could create employment.

President Khama said in some countries, small businesses were the biggest employers. Therefore, he urged young Batswana to come up with businesses so as to create jobs for other citizens. He said government had created many youth empowerment programmes and it was incumbent upon the youth to exploit the opportunities presented by the government.

Mr Kaisara Nfila  had complained about lack of unemployment among the youth, citing the shortage of big companies in Serowe to employ them. Mr Nfila also said the youth were depressed by the situation hence the high rate of alcohol and drug abuse in the country. President Khama said rather than the youth spending money on alcohol, they should invest the money on starting businesses and employing other Batswana.

He noted that government was making a lot of money from the alcohol levy and that it was going to use the money to fund youth projects. He said since the introduction of the alcohol levy,  government had collected P1.2 billion. President Khama also donated blankets, shirts and 20 chairs to the elderly.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi confirmed that most of the youth were unemployed, but said government was doing its best to deal with the challenge. Mr Kgathi noted that many graduates were unemployed, but said it was up to them to tap into citizen empowerment programmes for self-employment and to create business ventures.

On other issues, Minister Kgathi said he was aware that youth payments took long, but assured them that the problem would be solved. He assured the youth that they would now be paid on time, adding that they should not be discouraged and to keep participating in constituency games.

Mr Kgathi was answering a question from a member of the Village Development Committee, Mr Oduetse Gaolese, who complained of late payments from the Department of Sport and Recreation. Mr Gaolese explained that youth teams in their region were active but were often disappointed by late payments. ENDS