Bane of youth unemployment

As Covid raises unemployment rate to 32.4%

The global COVID- 19 pandemic has added to Botswana’s woes by raising the unemployment rate of youth from 31.3 to 32.4 percent.

The Quarterly Multi- Topic Survey of Quarter 4, 2020 attributes the increase in unemployment figures to close- down of some businesses, lockdowns and restricted movements especially for the informal sector.

According to the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare, youth unemployment still haunts the country that consists of a youthful and active population.

He is however pleased that the rate of youth Not in Education, Employment and Training ( NEET) has declined from 39.7 percent to 37.5 percent in the last quarter of 2020.

“To ensure full implementation, relevance and impact of the Botswana National Youth Policy, the Ministry has partnered with UNDP to start the review of the policy, this financial year.

“The tender was advertised and closed on the 5th February 2021. The review will be commissioned and completed during the first quarter of the 2021/ 22 financial year,” Rakgare said.

His Ministry has also introduced Youth Business Chapters as a platform for engagement by youth in business.

The efforts of growing youth businesses and sustaining employment are already taking shape as more districts are now mobilising the youth to form District Business Chapters.

District Business Chapters will enable young people to establish networks, share knowledge and skills, have a formal district structure for engagement and enhance community involvement. This is expected to facilitate business growth and sustained employment.

“The Botswana National Youth Council ( BNYC) in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP) continues to hold dialogues with young people to discuss areas of concern and gather feedback on youth programmes for improvement.

“In 2020/ 21, a total of 15 558 youth were reached through virtual platforms. The dialogues discussed key issues such as Youth and Health, Youth and Leadership Development, Entrepreneurship Development and Prevention of Gender Based Violence,” Rakgare told Parliament when presenting his ministry 2021/ 22 budget proposal.

According to the minister the BNYC also works closely with youth serving Non- Governmental Organisations to reach out to the youth and mobilise them around issues critical for their development and empowerment.

In the 2020/ 21 financial year, a total 197 863 youth were engaged in discussions on Sexual Reproductive Health, Alcohol and substance abuse, he said.

Rakgare stated that youth enterprises, like other businesses, face a challenging economic landscape due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.

He said interruptions in economic activity due to movement restrictions and risk of disease have rendered most businesses non- profitable.

“In our quest for sustainable empowerment of youth entrepreneurs, my Ministry provided a three months wage subsidy for youth businesses with a view to protect them from collapsing during the lockdown period.

“This was expected to help sustain jobs, in order to curb the rising youth unemployment rate. Most youth enterprises funded during 2019/ 2020 struggled to take- off due to the outbreak of COVID- 19 as restrictions affected procurement of equipment and related supplies,” explained Rakgare who is also MP for Mogoditshane.

Movement restrictions and extreme social distancing measures also prevented the call for YDF applications in 2020/ 2021.

Rakgare said that during the current financial year, the Ministry received 625 applocations across districts, from the previous financial year and 178 were approved at a value of P22 551 175. This translates to over 300 employment opportunities for young people, said the youthful minister.

“A National Youth Development Fund ( YDF) Loan Recovery Campaign under the tagline ‘ Akola ke Akole’ was launched on 12th November 2020 to improve loan recovery.

“This Campaign includes a robust media drive of messages, radio and television interviews and advertisements, to remind defaulters of their obligation to pay.

“We shall also utilise community, civic and political leaders to join my Ministry in encouraging defaulting youth to repay”.