18 Sep 2023

Batswana have been encouraged to embrace a growth mindset as they work towards achieving a high-income status economy by 2036.

The call came from Office of the President, Chief of Staff, Mr Boyce Sebetela during the second annual Institute for Labour and Employment Studies (ILES) Labour conference in Gaborone on Friday. 

Mr Sebetela said fostering a growth mindset was a potent catalyst for both economic development and individual success, crucial for realising the goal of attaining a high-income status economy.

Addressing the conference themed,  A Just Transition and Decent Work: Inclusive Job Creation Approaches and Effective labour market protection systems’, Mr Sebetela highlighted that a mindset transformation could play a crucial role in job creation.

“When individuals, communities and governments adopt a more entrepreneurial and innovative mindset, they are more likely to create, support, and sustain job opportunities,” he noted. He thus encouraged Batswana to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.

“We need to think like entrepreneurs as this type of mindset involves taking calculated risks, being proactive and seeking opportunities,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Sebetela referenced a report from Statistics Botswana, which revealed that about 80 per cent of the country’s exports were raw materials.

“Our export composition statistics indicate that our nation predominantly exports raw materials rather than consumer and capital goods,” he said.

“A greater number of jobs could be generated if a larger portion of the items exported by the country were at the very least, intermediate goods instead of raw materials," he explained.

Mr Sebetela said it was for that reason that job creation and mindset change could not be separated. Additionally, he emphasised that the adoption of fixed mindsets like 'diamonds are forever' and the perception of being a landlocked nation should be discouraged.

Instead, he stressed the importance of cultivating a growth mindset within a society that offers support for entrepreneurship.

This, he noted, would create a conducive environment for the generation of employment opportunities. ends