08 Mar 2020

 It is imperative to facilitate Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) youth to contest for elections so that they do not enter Parliament through special dispensation.  

The President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, said this during the 38th BDP youth congress in Rakops on March 6.

He said the party’s youth wing should produce capable cadres who could stand with other competitors for council and parliamentary seats.

He expressed concern that youth representation at both council and parliament remained low.

President Masisi said establishment of a BDP youth wing was anchored on the principle of a fair representation of youth matters in management of the party and government. 

He said it was to ensure that young people were represented at all levels including councils, National Assembly and within the party.

The President said the party’s  2019 manifesto promised to address youth challenges, chief among them, being unemployment.

One of government’s priorities was to upscale access to technical and vocational education to re-train some of the graduates to transform them into a highly productive, innovative and entrepreneurial workforce.

The objective was to ensure that no one was left behind in a move towards a more inclusive-knowledge-based economy. 

Government, he said, also continued to facilitate the ease of doing business in Botswana, therefore it embarked on the exercise of reviewing policies that hampered business star-ups and the growth of businesses. 

He said one policy that was under review was the use of fields for mixed land use such as agro-tourism, adding that the flexibility to use one’s plot and field for profit making ventures allowed for innovative use of scarce land.

President Masisi stated that government had also enacted trade and industrial amendment acts, which would go a long way in reducing number of days for starting a business from 48 days to 13 days.  

Under the presidential initiative, he said, Botswana would next month host Forbes Under 30 Summit aimed at inculcating the spirit of entrepreneurship. 

The Steve Harvey initiative that sought to expose the youth to television production and film making would also contribute to development of talent in the industry.

The 38th national youth congress he said, came on the backdrop of having lost one of the most prominent members of the inaugural national youth executive committee, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphri.

 He stated that Mr Matlhabaphiri was not only the first and longest serving general secretary of the youth wing, but he was also instrumental in its establishment and deserved recognition as well as a special tribute.

President Masisi indicated that the youth had made them proud, citing the energy and the vibe they generated as they resonated with the brand.

The President indicated that it showed the power of youth energy and resolve, saying it was the young people who really won the 2019 elections.

He noted that they did not win the elections by mistake, citing that the thinking, mission, purpose and motivation were aligned and the discipline out-weighted the indiscipline.

President Masisi applauded the youth and urged them to sustain the momentum as they go in to the 2024 general elections. 

He warned party elders not to repeat the discord that they thrust upon their young people in 2017 Tsabong congress, saying it was more of the future for young people than theirs.

He cautioned them against dividing the party saying they should instead build for 2024 where victory should be certain. 

“Build so that your own retirement is pleasurable when you live longer under the rule of the BDP led government by these young stalwarts,” he said.

He implored BDP elders to guide young people, commit to supporting them and teach them from their experience that in any fair contest there was only one winner, but victory was not an occasion to ridicule and downplay the contribution of others.

The present youth cohort must take seriously its obligations to develop the younger generation and ensure that the party remained unassailable, he said.

President Masisi said he did not have an iota of doubt about the potential and certainty of BDP thrashing the opposition in 2024. 

He said during the 2019 elections, opposition alleged to have been cheated and raised issues that it could never substantiate in court.

Meanwhile, party chairperson and also Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said it was critical to strengthen character development among the youth. 

Mr Tsogwane said the youth should be able to address their issues responsibly, saying unity among the youth guaranteed the party of the future. 

Discipline, he said, was crucial for any organisation and self-discipline was even more critical.  Ends