15 Aug 2022

Young entrepreneurs have been encouraged to use digital technology and social media platforms to market their businesses.

Giving a keynote address on behalf of Francistown Mayor Mr Godisang Radisigo at the Youth Entrepreneurship graduation ceremony on Friday, Councillor Morulaganyi Mothowabarwa of Donga ward said besides investing on technological businesses, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok and others offered a marketplace for youth entrepreneurs to flourish.

Councillor Mothowabarwa cited lack of land as one stumbling block faced by majority of young people as most businesses required land. 

He, however, noted that government was aware of such a challenge and was making efforts to address it.

Government, he said, had invested much into empowering the youth to reduce unemployment and had further made great strides in easing processes for young people to get into business. 

Councillor Mothowabarwa cited such strides as the setting up of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, whose main assignment was to generate entrepreneurship prospects for Botswana.

“There has been efforts to revamp the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) in 2020, as well as to align parastatal organisations in order to ensure ease of doing business,” he said.

Government in its Sustainable Development Goals hopes that by 2030 it will sustainably increase the number of youth who have relevant skills, especially technical and vocational skills for employment and entrepreneurship, he said.

Councillor Mothowabarwa said as entrepreneurship and innovation were seen to be crucial for Botswana’s economic and social development, government had put in place initiatives such as Youth Development Fund (YDF) and is currently opened for applications for the year 2022/23.

For his part, SOS national director, Mr Motshwari Kitso said SOS Strategy 2030 suggested the empowerment of young people towards self-reliance by supporting the integration of young people into the wider community, which would result in a stronger impact at individual and social level.

Mr Kitso said it would also reinforce employment related and entrepreneurial skills of young people through partnerships, coaching for formal education, career development and supporting young people to enter the job market by securing internship opportunities.

He said while SOS aimed to mould youth to be better parents and to live better within the community, they use a holistic approach to accord them all necessary equipment.

“It also aims to provide entrepreneurial, vocational, digital skills, business incubations in areas of agriculture and other service based industries,” he said.

He noted that from January to June, the project had benefited 100 young people, 60 of whom were people living with disabilities, who acquired vocational and digital skills.

About 157 trainees from Mathangwane, Borolong, Shashemooke and Chadibe including some from SOS Children’s Village graduated.

Mr Batshani Mogibelo, a graduate said he appreciated the training and all business skills he acquired as most of them were an eye opener to him.

He noted that as he took the training with utmost seriousness it deserved, he spent sleepless night studying all material given for the following day including working on assignments.

“From the commencement of the training, I wanted my name to be among the top achievers, as such, I spent sleepless nights and dealt away with laziness as I told myself that there was no turning back.

I made all opportunities to be available and was present in all classes,” he said.

Although he complained about lack of business plots to kick start their business, he advised his peers to start their business plans and ensure that the documents were of high quality and standard.

Another graduate, Mr Kgosietsile Keabetswe said it was not easy.

However, he managed through hard work and eagerness to achieve regardless of obstacles.

He advised others not to get certificates only to sit back as they had to start businesses so that they could employ other youths and help change lives. ends