07 Apr 2024

The founder for Youth for Gender Equality Foundation, Mr Baboloki Semele has urged youth to actively engage in the country’s political landscape.

In an interview recently, Mr Semele  highlighted the importance of youth involvement in national and regional governing bodies. 

According to Mr Semele, youth participation has been low,  despite constituting the largest portion of the population and being the future leaders. 

He emphasised that integrating youth into mainstream politics was crucial as it brought dynamism that could lead to positive changes for the future. 

Therefore, Mr Semele encouraged both women and youth to take part in elections in significant numbers, noting that youth had the potential to shape public policies and should take up political positions actively rather than being passive observers.

The Youth for Gender Equality Foundation is organising a series of retreats for youth and women in politics to address pertinent issues impacting Botswana’s political landscape. 

This initiative, made possible through support from the United States, aims to empower participants with the necessary skills and knowledge.

Mr Semele mentioned that the retreat would include training sessions on campaign strategies, effective communication, and post-election behavior. He stressed that youth could play a vital role in politics at various levels, emphasising that political engagement goes beyond Parliament and council, encompassing a wide range of issues.

“Youth can be political at any level and make a valuable contribution to the country, politics. It is not only about Parliament and counci, but about different range of other matters,” said Mr Semele.

Key topics such as job creation, climate change, and social inequalities were highlighted as critical areas that resonate with the youth demographic, not only in Botswana but across Africa. 

The retreat, scheduled to take place at the Botswana National Youth Council, presents an opportunity for youth to contribute locally and participate in global discussions.

It will start on Monday to Wednesday and offers a platform for youth to build their skills, network, and engage actively in shaping the future political landscape of Botswana. Ends