18 Nov 2013

The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Keletso Rakhudu has commended Scripture Union for bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the spiritual and moral development of the youth.

Addressing the business community in a breakfast meeting organized by the Scripture Union in Gaborone, Mr Rakhudu said the event coincided with reports from local media which depicted a worrying trend of youth challenges such as satanism, teenage pregnancy, suicide, crime and drugs, saying these issues have a negative bearing effects in life.

Although great efforts had been made to militate against youth challenges, Mr Rakhudu said they were not close to the winning line; hence a multi-dimensional approach is required. “Notwithstanding the progress made, the spiritual and moral challenges among youth remain worrisome,” he said.

Mr Rakhudu further noted that schools were inundated with a number of challenges ranging from teenage pregnancies, satanism, misconduct characterized by truancy and destruction of property.

He said almost a third of the country’s population was in schools. As the youth made up almost 60 per cent of the population, Mr Rakhudu said they formed a crucial part of the overall citizen empowerment efforts. He said their vulnerability to social ills and moral degradation threatened the integrity and identity of the society.

Mr Rakhudu said if they were able to address these issues, they would be headed towards achieving prosperity for all as espoused in Vision 2016. Furthermore, Mr Rakhudu stated that lack of parental guidance has been eroded due to changing life styles and parents spending the majority of their time at work whilst children spend their time at school.

He praised the Scripture Union, saying that it should be seen to be an institution where the youth can turn to in time of distress and pain whenever they feel rejected, cheated and lonely.

He added that the Scripture Union needed to provide comfort and hope to the hopeless. The Scripture Union was a school-serving and non-profit making organization which has been very supportive to the ideal of a progressive nation.

The initiative was meant to engage the business community and solicit their deliberate support and participation in the moral development of the youth in Botswana. ENDS