24 Mar 2022

Tati West MP, Mr Simon Moabi has emphasised the need for government to prioritise projects that have capacity to create many jobs when disbursing the Youth Development Fund (YDF) finances.

Debating the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development budget proposal on Wednesday, Mr Moabi said using YDF to address youth unemployment should be the main objective.

He, therefore, said the ministry should focus on the number of jobs created instead of just the number of business projects funded through YDF.

“The issue should not be the number of projects funded, but it should instead be the impact those projects would make to address unemployment of young people,” he said.

The legislator further urged the ministry to look closely at struggling YDF-funded businesses, evaluate their challenges and assist with solutions.

Mr Moabi also asked the ministry to carry out maintenance of the Masunga Sports Complex.

He further expressed concern that the ministry was too big and should be divided into two ministries; Ministry of Youth on the one hand and that of Arts, Culture and Sport on the other.

For his part, Serowe North MP, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe argued that the ministry should play a facilitating role of guiding youth to venture into viable businesses.

Mr Mathoothe said instead of continuing to fund business projects whose markets were ith saturated, the YDF should finance projects with viable or flourishing markets.

He also urged government to promote the music and performing arts sector by building recording and production facilities around the country.

Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas said under-employment was one of the major factors impoverishing young people.

Mr Lucas said many young graduates in this country earned low salaries not commensurate with their qualifications and urged government to look closely into the issue.

“Young people should be paid salaries that are commensurate to their skills and qualifications.

If the situation continues like it is now, the youth will continue to be afflicted by poverty,” he said.

He said under-employment and joblessness were frustrating the youth.

He urged government to prioritise young people for empowerment programmes under agriculture and allocation of ploughing fields, to assist them to venture into farming.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy urged government to address youth unemployment rate.

“If 32.4 per cent of the youth are unemployed, we are probably talking about somewhere close to 500 000 people.

It is a big concern and ministers should be youth centrist and youth focused on their programmes,” he said.

Mr Mangwegape-Healy also asked for construction of a ‘world class’ 60 000 capacity stadium in Gaborone as the National Stadium was too old and small.

Thamaga/Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane asked the ministry to buy computers and provide other facilities such as sports fields at the youth centre in Thamaga while also asking for expansion of the public library in Thamaga.

Ghanzi South MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai asked for the construction of a mini stadium in Charleshill, while Kgalagadi North MP, Ms Talita Monnakgotla asked for construction of a stadium in her constituency.

Responding to some of the issues raised by MPs, youth empowerment, sport and culture development minister, Mr Tumiso Rakgare said the ministry considered the market, competition, threats and opportunities before funding projects through YDF.

Mr Rakgare also said the ministry prioritised projects with potential to employ many people.

He said maintenance of Masunga Sports Complex would be carried out through facilities maintenance funds allocated to the Botswana National Sport Commission.

Consequently, Parliament approved the ministry’s 2022/2023 financial year budget estimates comprising P964 964 060 for recurrent expenditure and P47 570 225 for development expenditure. ENDS