Unemployment is the single biggest threat to national security that we face today. It is a ticking time bomb which can in time make the country ungovernable. Organised crime will soar, as the educated throw their arms into the air in desperation. The public purse will come under more strain as more babies are born to parents who cannot afford to take care of them. We are on a downward spiral to doomsday and unless we do something and do it in a hurry, we are going the way of failed states.
For a moment I was somewhat delighted that the politicians seemed to be taking notice that so many of our young people roam the streets with skills the market cannot absorb. Well, maybe there is no market to begin with. The opposition, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), were first off the blocks promising a hundred thousand jobs in twelve months and hemp as their main remedy. There was no real structure, let alone economic thinking or planning behind the promise. Just a charm offensive to get a virgin to bed. The harvesting of youth votes seemed to be the sole objective, without more. On the other hand, the ruling party was all over the show promising electric cars and nothing of substance relative to their plight. Nothing concrete was on offer, in terms of job figures and solutions. In the meantime, real institutions and corner street educational contraptions are planning their next graduation ceremonies. The manifestos of these two political giants have nothing tangible with regards to where they are going. The youth are the most neglected and most exploited constituency in Botswana politics.
