Youth exploit erosion of public trust on politicians
Prepare to take up political offices
President of the Limokwing University Student Representative Council ( SRC) Wedu Charles Tafa is confident that Botswana youth have what it takes to take the country forward and see- through developments as well as political and social cohesion.
He said s ome Batswana have lost faith in politicians and it is time to restore their faith and show that there are leaders who genuinely have people’s interests at heart.
Speaking at a leadership workshop hosted by Organisation for Youth and Elections in Botswana ( OYEBO) at the university this past Friday, Tafa said youth should come together to find solutions to the most pressing challenges in their midst, and also engage political leaders in society.
“Youth makes up the highest percentage of our national population but they are often the least represented and their voice is not heard. We want to see more young faces in political leadership,” said Tafa, who on the sidelines expressed interest in one day running for national political office.
The SRC Vice- chairperson Paulson Tau emphasised that youth are still faced with many challenges that need to be urgently addressed such as poverty, unemployment as well as mental health, which is a growing concern in Botswana.
Another SRC member, Olorato Rorisang Ramothwa said personal development is key and young people should invest in themselves and be attuned to what is happening in society, find ways to improve their lives, and be bold enough to engage their leaders, adding that under the current economic and political climate, resilience is key.
Executive Director of OYEBO, Bernard Bogosi who drilled the youth leaders on character development, emotional and interpersonal skills as well as social media etiquette, reminded the youth that leadership is a responsibility, urging them to use the platform that they have been given as SRC leaders, as a nurturing ground to fine- tune their understanding of leadership and dealing with and serving people, because, in the coming years, they would be at the forefront of leading the country.
“As a nation, we are relying on young people such as yourselves to bring fresh ideas. Being a leader is not easy and requires consistent selfimprovement and personal development.
“Firstly, as a leader, you should have integrity, good morals and principles, and possess empathy; it is important to cultivate these positive attributes and values from a young age.
“It is unfortunate that some leaders lack these values and it becomes a challenge for people to trust them. Some leaders are only visible when elections are around the corner and the rest of the time they are not there.
“I want you to be a different type of leader, who is committed to national development and taking this country forward, not focused on pushing personal agendas and self- enrichment at the expense of national resources.”
He encouraged the team to invest time and energy into their growth and evolution.
“For example, meetings should not be about having tea and biscuits and gossiping; when you come together, a great portion of your time should be dedicated to personal development and improving your leadership skills.”
The youth leaders reiterated that gone are the days of politicians “buying voters Coke in exchange” for a vote. They said it was great to see how Batswana are becoming more politically conscious and aware of their role in a democratic society, and this calls for younger leaders with fresh ideas and the vibrancy and vitality to propel the country to greater heights.
Bogosi said it is unfortunate that Batswana have lost faith in politicians and their leaders, noting that it is important to restore public trust.
He also said that Batswana should realise that they have power in political leadership. “Botswana are the electorates and their vote has a strong say, so they should use that vote to hold leaders accountable.”
Bogosi, who said he is not involved in partisan politics, and rather chooses his democratic right to vote for a fitting candidate as opposed to a political party, encouraged the SRC team, which comprises of youth from across the political divide to always work together to improve lives.