24 Mar 2021

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has applauded the president of Botswana Football Association (BFA) for attaining an executive position at the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Supporting the budget proposal for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Tsogwane also congratulated Mr Patrice Motsepe of South Africa for winning the CAF presidency.

He called upon the youth minister to ensure the construction of a mini-stadium in Boteti was completed on time.

He also welcomed the decision by Minister Tumiso Rakgare to provide wage subsidies to artistes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.He said character building would help develop youth into responsible citizens and emphasised that it should be in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Education.

Vice President Tsogwane also said youths should be allowed to purchase tender documents at discounted prices, and further appealed that they should be given maintenance projects.

For his part, MP Simon Moabi of Tati West said the ministry should be divided with the departments of culture and gender affairs forming one ministry while leaving culture and sport as an independent ministry.

He said the youth were faced with challenges emanating from unemployment and lack of residential plots.

MP Moabi also said some foreigners were running sectors that should be reserved for youths such as salons and textile.

He said Old Naledi youths, who used open spaces to manufacture different products, should be provided with warehouses.

Kanye North MP, Mr Thapelo Letsholo said people in his constituency were still waiting for a promised sports complex, and that they have even reserved a plot as requested by the minister.

He also said sports activities should resume to enable athletes to generate income .

MP Letsholo also proposed that Btv and Radio Botswana should increase local content in order to benefit artists. He further said Btv studios should be availed to the youth for production purposes.

Ghanzi North MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai said he was happy a library had been built in Charleshill, but said the village also needed a mini stadium as pupils were forced to travel 200 km to Ghanzi for sporting activities.

He also said the youth found it difficult to access the Youth Development Fund (YDF) as the required quotations expired before their proposals were approved. 

For his part, Thamaga-Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane said some facilities at schools designated as schools of excellence were underutilised.

He said from the minister’s presentation, there was P58 million that was to be used in various competitions and that instead each constituency should be allocated a share of the money to fund youth projects.

Furthermore, Mr Motaosane urged the minister to construct a library at Kumakwane.

MP Molebatsi Molebatsi of Mmadinare said the country was sitting on a time bomb as the youth were facing challenges such as unemployment.

He said government should come up with short-term and long-term strategies aimed at empowering the youth.

Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said the youth should be given training as some businesses funded through YDF had collapsed.

He called upon the minister to ensure that a farm allocated to Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) was utilised as it would be beneficial for youths in his constituency.

MP Mmusi also said there were football teams in his constituency such as Gabane Santos and Black Forest that played in the premier league and that they should be provided with a stadium.

While Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said most businesses funded through YDF had collapsed as P100 000 was not enough to sustain them.

He wondered if government was concerned about the sustainability of projects, saying a number of them have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued that they should be given amnesty as they would not be able to settle their debts.

MP Mmolotsi further said the country should produce talented sports personnel and export them where they could earn better salaries.

Ramotswa MP, Mr Lefoko Moagi, who is also Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, said his ministry has released funds for various energy projects, and that it would be better if the youth were engaged to carry out those projects. ENDS