28 Oct 2026

Remodelling the Youth Development Fund alongside the development of a National Fund of Funds will expand financing opportunities for young people, says Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe.

Speaking at the Youth Budget Pitso in Selebi Phikwe on Tuesday, Mr Gaolatlhe, also Minister of Finance, said the intention was to build sustainable youth-owned businesses that could grow, create employment and expand opportunities.

While he acknowledged the country’s financial strain, he promised that government would use available resources to invest on initiatives that promoted youth development and economic participation.

“The demand does not mean that government’s ambition for young people will diminish,” he said, underscoring the importance of careful resource allocation.

On the creative industry, Mr Gaolatlhe said government recognised it as a legitimate sector capable of generating income and employment opportunities.

He said government was considering a proposal to establish a dedicated arts fund as part of the rationalisation of Special Funds.

Meanwhile, government has allocated P200 million to the National Creative Industry Expansion Programme for the 2026/27 financial year.

Mr Gaolatlhe said the investment was intended to translate government’s commitment into tangible opportunities for artists, producers and other creative entrepreneurs.

He also highlighted government’s approval of the National Youth Policy for 2026-2036 and its implementation plan, which would provide a framework for prioritising youth development, economic participation and meaningful representation in national agendas.

During the previous Youth Budget Pitso, he said the youth called for action on unemployment, skills development, entrepreneurship, access to finance and climate change.

He assured them that their concerns had been heard and would inform the development of sustainable solutions.

“One of the proposals we received from young Batswana was for the establishment of a coherent national climate governance framework with necessary coordination mechanisms to respond effectively to climate change and mobilise resources,” he said.

He said government officials and relevant stakeholders had reviewed the proposal and found it worth implementing because it aligned with ongoing climate change governance initiatives.

Mr Gaolatlhe said government had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Climate Foundation to support the establishment and operationalisation of Botswana’s national climate strategy.

Meanwhile, the Youth Budget Pitso provided a platform for young people to engage government on the country’s economic direction, development priorities and competing demands on public finances.

It also sought to deepen their understanding of macroeconomic challenges and how public resources were allocated to address development needs.

The engagement further enabled young people to contribute to national decision-making and had their perspectives considered in policy formulation. ENDS