12 Jun 2025

Young people have been implored to finds ways to become self-reliant instead of waiting for formal employment opportunities.

Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile said this when responding to comments by Village Development Committee (VDC) vice secretary, who complained about high unemployment rate among the youth at Boseja Central ward. The country as a whole, he said, was facing a challenge of unemployment particularly among the youth hence he called on parents to encourage their children to seek opportunities to make a meaningful impact. 

He noted that some giant companies were retrenching employees while on the other hand some young people aspired to secure government jobs perceived stable. The legislator advised people to leverage their talents to earn a living, saying ‘nowadays the nature of work has changed, opportunities for formal employment are limited and it is high time young people change their attitudes toward jobs and use their skills and talents to earn a living’. Mr Kekgonegile said the agriculture sector had significant potential to create employment opportunities and urged youth to consider venturing into various agricultural activities such as horticulture. 

Earlier on, VDC vice secretary, Ms Kethutswe Moyantweng expressed concern about high unemployment rate among young people, saying some had as a result indulged in social ills such as alcohol and drug abuse. Unemployment, she said, was a primary catalyst for poverty and drug abuse, which in turn exacerbated societal problems such as crime. She attributed alcohol consumption to mushrooming shebeens in the ward, which operated without licences and did not obey stipulated operating hours. 

On other issues, Ms Moyantweng thanked government for increasing Ipelegeng quota in their ward from 64 to 72 and posting a psychiatric nurse at Boseja Clinic. She called on government to consider opening a 24-hour maternity wing at Matshwane clinic to ease the burden on Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital and Moeti clinic.

On alcohol and drug addiction, MP Kekgonegile said he was equally concerned about the issue. Mr Kekgonegile also raised a concern about the crime in Boseja Central ward and urged residents to resuscitate the neighbourhood watch initiative, which he said helped in reduction of crime in other areas. He condemned further gender-based violence incidents in Maun, stating that at least two people died every month due to the passion killings. He emphasised the need for the community to combat such incidents. ENDS