09 Feb 2025

Growing expectations are mounting from unemployed graduates as Vice President and Finance Minister Mr Ndaba Gaolathe prepares to present the 2025/2026 budget to Parliament tomorrow.

Young people across the nation are calling for economic stimulation and employment creation to be central to the budget, with a particular focus on sectors poised to transform livelihoods.

Ms Oabona Jacobs, a 30-year-old unemployed graduate from Gakhibana, emphasised the need for the budget to revitalise the  economy and create sustainable job opportunities. She advocated for a review of the 2019 Informal Sector Strategy to better support informal startups and entrepreneurs with increased funding.

“Financing avenues such as the Youth Fund, Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), and Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) exist to assist with business plans, but excessive paperwork and red tape hinder young people from establishing businesses successfully,” she stated.

In terms of digital transformation, Ms Jacobs stressed the importance of providing technology and innovation graduates with opportunities to showcase their products on both local and international stages. Funding provisions for such projects could serve as an economic engine that benefits a range of stakeholders.

Regarding education and skills development, Ms Jacobs called for legislative measures to identify and nurture each child’s skills from an early age, allowing them to hone their abilities and contribute effectively to the economy. She also urged that the budget prioritise social protection programmes aimed at eliminating poverty, reducing inequalities, and improving quality of life.

“Unemployment leads to frustration among youth, which can escalate into criminal activities and mental health issues, as well as gender-based violence (GBV),” Ms Jacobs warned.

Highlighting concerns about GBV, she noted, “It has become a pandemic. While there are trained social workers available, many are unemployed. Increased funding for GBV prevention and survivor support is essential, including resources for awareness campaigns, safe shelters, and counseling services.”

Ms Francinah Matthys, a 31-year-old unemployed travel and tourism graduate from Struizendam in Tsabong District, expressed her high expectations for the upcoming budget under the new government. She insisted that youth programmes initiated by the previous government, such as CEDA and Chema Chema, should continue.

However, Ms Matthys raised concerns that these programmes often failed to reach remote areas like Struizendam, where few people were approved for youth fund applications.

“We struggle financially, and the limited infrastructure makes it challenging to succeed in these applications,” she said.

She proposed that the Chema Chema programme be revised to offer a combination of grants and loans.

Additionally, she suggested that the budget should include plans to develop tourism attractions in Kgalagadi South, leveraging the constituency’s natural resources for economic development.

“We have beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and natural areas that can boost the economy,” she explained. ENDS