30 Jul 2023

 Parliament last Friday adopted a motion calling on government to consider introducing an unemployment benefit stipend for the unemployed Batswana.

The motion was tabled by Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West and Leader of Opposition, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse.

Commenting on the deliberations of Members of Parliament when debating the motion before it was passed, Mr Keorapetse said comments made by MPs that an unemployment benefit stipend would breed laziness among the unemployed were unfounded, adding that the country was importing the majority of its goods from countries with the same scheme.

Mr Keorapetse said the youth stood a chance to benefit most from the stipend as they would use the money to seek employment opportunities and apply for jobs. 

He also said the stipend would reduce the burden of parents caring for their unemployed youth through the old age pension.

Mr Keorapetse said it had been demonstrated that not all young people were able to be absorbed into secondary schools, tertiary or even find employment, hence the need to support them.

He argued that most of the youth were unemployed, unable to access programmes such as the Youth Development Fund, CEDA and even access social protection programmes such as Ipelegeng and others

The Leader of Opposition stated that government only ought to change its priorities in order to fund the programme as well as to avoid wastage of spending on projects, which could be carried at a lower price.

He said the unemployment stipend would be of great assistance to young people who were disadvantaged economically.

He said it was the position of the Umbrella for Democratic Change that government should consider introducing the stipend, saying experts would guide the programmes feasibility and implementation.

During debate, Members of Parliament from both the ruling party and opposition parties expressed different views on the bill. 

Opposition MPs supported the motion while ruling party MPs opposed it. 

They said there were already programmes in place to assist the unemployed and that government would not be able to sustain the programme due to shortage of funds.

Speaker of the National Assembly then called for a verbal vote on the motion and opposition MPs were the loudest in their agreement. 

When ruling party MPs called for a ballot vote on the motion, the Speaker declined, saying time for such had elapsed. Ends