11 Nov 2025

Government has taken a decision to avail P200 million from the Alcohol Levy Fund toward procurement of Creative Arts content for the young people, says President Advocate Duma Boko.

In his  State-of-Nation-Address, President Boko said the youth were the most valuable and precious resource of the nation and more.

“We see your energy, we value your ideas, we admire your courage. Your talent, creativity and innovative spirit stand at the very heart of our national renewal,” said President Boko.

 President Boko said his administration was committed to creating the environment that will nurture their potential, support their entrepreneurial dreams and harness their digital-native capabilities for national development.

“We will not dismiss your ideas but develop them; we will not ignore your aspirations but invest in them. The Botswana we build tomorrow will be shaped by your imagination and courage today,” he said.

He said the Ministry for State President has established The Presidential Youth Empowerment Campaign (PYEC) that has the potential to create employment across all sectors.

He said despite the country facing a pressing unemployment crisis, especially with the youth at 38 per cent, government has selected 186 projects across nine priority sectors.

He said the projects were BETP selected projects and BETP intends to create 512 000 jobs, primarily targeting the youth.

He said one of the projects to debut the Presidential Youth Empowerment Campaign was the Climate-Smart Horticulture Development Programme which was a targeted skilling and capacity building programme to develop over 500 small-hold farmers organised in clusters.

He pointed out that a horticulture specific fund in partnership with financial institutions will be established to facilitate young farmers and beneficiaries to access both local and export markets.

President Boko PYEC has also mobilised a task force to develop a coordinated, data-driven strategy in partnership with UNICEF, Office of the Assistant Secretary General for Youth at the United Nations and the United Nations Commission for Africa.

He said among the initial Presidential Youth Empowerment Campaign projects were the Textile Acceleration Programme, Government Automobile Maintenance Programme, Digital Content Creation Hub all of which have a component of skills development and mentorship for growth of priority industries and employment creation

“A baseline study will be undertaken to identify 1 000 most promising candidates and produce key deliverables including a Botswana Digital Employability Index, a national trainer registry, and a youth policy brief. These tools will guide future interventions and ensure targeted impact which will be scaled to 10 000 participants,” he said.

President Boko said government was currently updating all the relevant policies and legal frameworks to unlock the potential of the sector and to support its growth.

He said the Cinematography Bill, which will modernise Botswana’s film industry with clear standards for production, distribution and exhibition, will be tabled before Parliament in the current sitting.

President Boko also said initiatives for development opportunities for Batswana youth will be delivered under the new agreements. “The recently launched International Graduate Development Programme is the first of such initiatives. This is a rolling two-year programme where Batswana young graduates will have an opportunity to work across De Beers’ global operations developing future fit skills for the diamond industry and beyond,” he said.

He said the reintroduction of sporting activities in schools was a valuable investment for the future, as it will enable to nurture elite athletes, performers, actors, and diverse creative talents.

President Boko said University sponsorships for Masters and PhD studies and internships with De Beers for students from tertiary institutions across Botswana would be launched in December 2025.

“To provide opportunities for growth of skills and participation of Batswana in diamond beneficiation, our new agreements with De Beers provide for a Diamond Entrepreneurship Programme, which is on track to be launched the coming month,” said Adv. Boko

In acknowledging the challenges of drug and alcohol abuse faced by young people, President Boko said government was in discussion with business partners to help complete and operationalise in the last quarter of the current financial year, a 50 bed youth friendly rehabilitation centre in Serowe with both in-patient and out-patient services.

“This is but one of many steps that government is taking to wage war against this scourge, so that no young Motswana gets robbed of his or her future by drugs and alcohol abuse,” he said. ENDS