08 Sep 2026

Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs has called on stakeholders and development partners to place young people at the centre of conversations on peace, governance, economic development and regional cooperation.

This, according to Ms Lesego Chombo would reflect the reality that young leaders were crucial contributors to development of societies.

“A young population can be a powerful driver of economic growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and social transformation when they have access to knowledge, skills, opportunities and institutions necessary to realise their potential.”

Ms Chombo was officiating at the Southern Africa Youth Peace and Economic Development Summit (SAYPED) in Gaborone on Saturday.

The Summit was organised by the Botswana chapter of the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYAN).

Minister Chombo further cited that Southern Africa continued to confront challenges relating to youth unemployment, under-employment, skills mismatches, limited access to finance and markets and inequality.

To address these challenges, she highlighted that Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs had been intentional in strengthening and rethinking some key interventions such as reviewing of the Botswana National Service Programme with a deliberate emphasis on tackling mismatch between the skills young people acquired and those demanded by the labour market, translating into meaningful economic pathways.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister for International Relations Dr Phenyo Butale, emphasised how international relations and diplomatic frameworks should directly serve and protect the youth.

He highlighted that sustainable regional development required opening doors for young entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders through cross-border cooperation, citing how framed youth involvement was essential for long term peace building and economic stability.

“Prosperity only becomes achieved when citizens have access to education, skills, employment, investment and meaningful economic participation,” he said.

Minister Butale further called for policy makers to go beyond just rhetoric, but build pathways that were firmly aligned with the broader continental and international development agenda.

He stated further that the African Union’s Agenda 2063 placed an empowered and engaged population at the centre of the continent’s transformation while at a regional level, SADC recognised youth development as important components of regional development and integration.

He encouraged young people to be prepared to participate within national and regional economies, ultimately building networks for global markets.

The SAYED Summit, held under the theme: Peace, Policy and Prosperity; Empowering Youth for a Secure and Inclusive Southern Africa, was hosted by the Botswana Representative, Mr Letsweletse Ngwako, who lobbied development partners to support economic transformation by bridging the gap between entrepreneurial potential and real financial prosperity to create youth led employment, sustainable green economies and cross border trade.ends