07 Jul 2026

Natural resources should not remain dormant while unemployment continued to grow, especially amongst the youth, says  Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatius Moswaane.

Mr Moswane underscored the need to harness Tsetsebjwe’s abundant natural resources to drive village industrialisation, create employment and stimulate sustainable economic development in the village, turning it into a success.

He made this statement during a kgotla meeting in Tsetsebjwe, where he highlighted that the surrounding area possessed immense natural resources with the potential to transform the village into a thriving centre of economic activity through industrialisation.

He advocated for value addition and local processing of the available resources, which could unlock new industries and improve livelihoods.

Mr Moswaane stated that for the country’s economic diversification to succeed, rural communities must also identify and maximise opportunities within their local environments. He encouraged the community to work together on initiatives that would benefit the village. Furthermore, he called on the community to protect natural resources and ensure that any exploitation was conducted responsibly to preserve the environment.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Mosetsanagape Busang of Tsetsejwe, expressed concern over the declining interest in farming among locals, saying there was a gradual drifting away from agriculture, despite it having sustained generations.

She said while Tsetsebjwe had long been recognised as a farming community with many households relying on crop production and rearing of livestock for livelihoods, there was a significant decline in the practice, particularly in the growing of crops.

This, she said,  had resulted in some villagers remaining idle during the ploughing season despite government initiatives aimed at supporting crop production. Kgosi Busang said it was not only a source of food but also an important part of the village’s identity and culture, saying abandoning fields could increase dependence on government.

Meanwhile, in an interview, some residents explained that their interest and love for farming was waning because of the proximity of wildlife, particularly baboons, to farming areas, saying this had emerged as one major obstacle to achieving bumper harvests.

Mr Abraham Manyeula said he continues to suffer heavy losses despite investing a lot in the fields, saying when the harvest season approached, baboons invaded crops, destroying maize and sorghum, leaving him with little harvest after months of hard work.

He said the problem had become more pronounced in recent years, and that the act of chasing away baboons was dangerous since some could turn aggressive.  ENDS