27 Jun 2023

Youth, as future leaders and constituting a substantial number of Botswana’s population, play a critical role in every nation’s development and therefore should not be neglected.

This was said by British High Commissioner to Botswana, Ms Sean Price at a business roundtable in Serowe recently.

Ms Price thus challenged people from all spheres of life to recognise the youth as vital assets.

“Botswana is not spared from the notion that youth are diamonds as a higher percentage of the population is under the age of 35,” she said.

She described the roundtable as a window to Serowe’s future, adding that inclusive approach to development remained paramount through ensuring that all sectors of the society were recognised and incorporated.

“No growth can be inclusive if it does not create a platform for both men and women to benefit equitably, thus opportunities for women and the youth are essential for Botswana’s political, social and economic development,” she added.

Further, she indicated that the United Kingdom had made a commitment to prioritise gender equality, social and economic inclusion.

“Gender equality and inclusion is achieved by empowering all regardless of their disability, age, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or geographical location. It is global evidence that higher levels of gender equality are associated with reduced income inequality, increased productivity and economic resilience,” Ms Price said.

She was also of the view that gender equality and social inclusion presented gains in human development and wellbeing of individuals, families and societies, something she said was good for businesses to thrive and was a fundamental basic human right.

Recently, she said the United Kingdom had launched the international women and girls strategy that set out its approach to supporting women economic empowerment around the world.

“The basis of the strategy is the promotion of skills acquisition and quality jobs, hence the Serowe roundtable,” she said.

She indicated that job creation required investment, adding that UK would be hosting the UK/African Investment Summit in London in the near future, which would be hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

She explained that the summit underlined UK’s commitment to strengthening and expanding their broad and long standing ties with Africa, putting respect and mutual benefit at the core in order to build a secure and prosperous future for all citizens.

She said the event would bring together all African heads of states and government, including President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi as well as UK and African business leaders to deliberate on a wide range of activities so as to create jobs and opportunities including support for the African Union’s theme for this year, which focused on the acceleration and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Ms Price also indicated that free trade was essential for inclusive growth.

“The summit will provide a platform to advance a two-way trade and investment partnership between the UK and Botswana and create those jobs, adding that it would take advantage of UK’s unique position as a global financial hope to create new economic opportunities across Africa,” she said.

For his part, Bangwato regent, Kgosi Serogola Seretse said the roundtable was a good vehicle that brought about dialogue among the youth.

He said as leadership, they wanted a drug-free generation, responsible youth that aimed to better their lives. 

He called for a youth fund for their businesses.

“The days of being employed are gone and youth should visualise being employers rather than employees,” he said.

He thus encouraged the youth to think on a broader spectrum and come up with business ideas in order to create employment for the less privileged and empower themselves.

The business roundtable Serowe president, Mr Botshelo Nthaga said their mandate rested upon the Reset and Reclaim agenda.

He said after making the needed impact, Serowe would network and share ideas in all spheres of life as well as aid government to achieve its mandate on human and social development through knowledge and resource sharing. ENDs