04 Feb 2024

Minister of Finance, Ms Peggy Serame is set to deliver the budget speech for the 2024/2025 financial year to Parliament on February 5.

As the nation eagerly anticipates the upcoming budget speech, the streets are buzzing with conversations, expectations and concerns.

Seeking insights from the youth perspective, BOPA engaged with some young people who own Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to gauge their expectations regarding the upcoming budget speech.

The sentiment among many was one of hope, anticipating positive changes that would contribute to the overall well-being of the country.

Motswedi board game creator, Mr Thabiso Paul, who resides in Gaborone said he expected the budget to follow the same template as the previous years.

“But what would be interesting is the allocation of the education and health budgets and whether it will mirror the Reset Agenda and the mindset campaign as explained to the nation,” he said.

He said he was also curious to find out how much would be allocated to the youth and whether they would receive unemployment allowances or any other form of social relief to help them survive the day.

“If it were according to my wishes, I would create a certain economic incentive to the private sector so that they can enrol the youth in the world of work or maybe give the elderly an incentive to retire early to create space for the youth,” he said.

Adding to the conversation, Mr Martin Moatshe, a 32-year-old youth innovator and founder of online application, iFirsh said he looked forward to this year’s budget speech and its potential impact.

He said his expectation was to find initiatives in the speech that boosted youth economic inclusion.

“By far, policies available have not solved issues pertaining to inclusion of youth in the mainstream economy,” he said.

“So my expectation is a stimulus package or at the very least enforcing mechanisms which guarantee policies supporting youth economic inclusion”, he said.

Mr Moatshe said unemployment amongst the youth should be top priority for the government.

“We must harness public procurement to find gaps of opportunity in building sustainable businesses by manufacturing that which we get from outside and purchased by government in order to create jobs,” he said.

Business Botswana youth sector chair, Mr Pako Sebetlela’s view was that the government would robustly strengthen the empowerment of youth in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, which significantly contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

When asked about specific measures or incentives he would like to see in the budget supporting youth-led businesses, Mr Sebetlela highlighted the importance of establishing a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) oversight authority.

 “Mind you, the youth are mostly emerging entrepreneurs and thus fall within the SME spectrum,” he said.

He stated that there was need for more engagement through high level consultative and sectoral level councils.

“I believe that ongoing dialogue with the government in these forums would enhance efficiency and productivity for the successful implementation of budgetary initiatives supporting youth-led businesses,” he said. ENDS