03 May 2021

The youth in Francistown have been encouraged to take advantage of resources available in the city to ward off unemployment.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Area S on Friday where residents were complaining of life struggles, Francistown East Member of Parliament, Mr Buti Billy said Francistown had so much to offer which could benefit residents.

He said the lockdown and subsequent extension imposed last year due to COVID-19 strained small businesses financially, but that relying on government for assistance might prove challenging because the economy also took a knock.

Mr Billy, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, said the previously thriving tourism industry was one area where residents could try their luck although the sector, like many others, had been affected by movement restrictions.

 “We have plots in the city that we can use to build stores, tuck-shops and guest houses if we work together. This will improve our standard of living once the situation has improved,” he said.

He said the Nyangabwe Hill was a potential monument to generate income.

MP Billy further encouraged residents to apply for programmes offered by the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and others made available by government.

He said CEDA assisted some small businesses stay afloat during the lockdown.

Mr Billy urged Batswana to support each other in order for small businesses to succeed because they were important to the economy.

 “We need to believe in ourselves and dream big,” he said, adding that the envisaged re-opening of the Tati Nickel Mine would present business opportunities.

He also urged residents to continue observing COVID-19 protocols.A resident and food stall owner, Ms Kopano Otukile said she was fortunate to get financial help from LEA after the lockdown. However, she said her business was not doing well because Batswana preferred food from established stores

“VAT went up but I cannot increase my prices due to lack of market even with my low prices,” she said. ENDS