18 Feb 2024

Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Mr Tumiso Rakgare has expressed gratitude towards the significant increase in funding for his ministry.

Debating the 2024/25 financial year budget speech in Parliament, Mr Rakgare said for the first time in the history of his ministry, they ‘got a better share’.

The ministry was allocated P1.06 billion, which is an increase of 19.4 per cent over the current financial year.

He said the increased funding showed that government had realised the importance of sport and the role that the creative industry could play in the country’s economy, adding that it was a welcome development for the sport and entertainment industry advancement.

Mr Rakgare also said the increased funding would lead to increased grants to oversight bodies such as Botswana National Youth Council as well as to adequately prepare national teams for international competitions.

Mr Rakgare, who is also Mogoditshane MP, said there was a need to audit land allocations done by the Mogoditshane Land Board.

He said there were allegations of dubious land allocations by the land board and that a forensic land audit would help to get to the bottom of the matter.

The MP also noted that the Mogoditshane land allocation waiting list dated as far back as the early 1990s, but that there were sprawling allocations in the area, hence the need to know how the allocations were conducted. 

He said some of the plots that used to be playing grounds or farms were now occupied and built up.

He said those found to have been involved in dubious land dealings should face the wrath of the law to send a strong message against corruption.

On other issues, Mr Rakgare said he supported political party funding and that all political parties should benefit.

Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East, Mr Yandani Boko, when contributing to the budget speech debate, said the budget proposal was silent on job creation. 

He said it failed to indicate the number of jobs to be created.

Mr Boko said many young people were competing with their parents for Ipelegeng, adding that youth unemployment was a ticking time bomb that needed to be addressed before it could explode.

Mr Boko also said the maintenance of schools and provision of learning materials was a concern in his constituency. 

He said education played a critical role in developing and empowering people, urging the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to address challenges affecting learning. ends