Budget a 'non-event' for youths
Tshegetsang Tebelelo | Friday January 29, 2021 16:35
The annual financial budget appears to be a distant issue, especially to most Batswana youth. For many of them, it serves no purpose. It does not help or benefit them, they say, so why should they care?
In a country where billions of pula can reportedly disappear without a trace, where corruption and nepotism are rampant, the youth are wondering why they should trust that what is being discussed at the budget speeches will really be implemented. Will the funds being allocated really go towards their allocated areas or will they disappear?
Youths are saying while they are the most affected by unemployment, budget speeches come and go each year without a difference in their lives. Year after year, ministries are allocated money to use for the country’s development, but only a few people benefit from that.
Many young Batswana have failed to secure funding for their entrepreneurial ideas over the years. They look at the infrastructure in their dilapidated villages, poor roads and wonder where the money goes.
Next Monday is no different and when Finance and Economic Development minister, Thapelo Matsheka presents the 2021-2022 budget speech, few youths will be paying attention.
Lapologang Tabafana, 23, unemployed
‘’Sometimes I have a desire to listen to the annual budget, but then I remember go re there are those who are catered for. Rona ba magae we keep commenting, but we are excluded in those budgets. The only thing we are used to is ‘gagona madi’. At least this time let the Ministry of Education be given a lot of money because education is important. It actually breaks a barrier between us and other countries. The Ministry of Youth should also be given enough money so that youths are given a chance to start their own businesses, which will curb unemployment.”
Mother-Theresa Marina Phenyo, 23, temp teacher
‘’Nna gakena sepe le di budget what what koore le ha gotwe makalana a hilwe madi itlhelle go sa supe. Ga gona accountability nna garena interest tota e bile rate ya corruption ka eleng kwa godimo ka teng, gagona mosola.”Bertha Kebotse, 30, prison officer
‘’Let’s say budget speech ya tsena kamoso ga nkake ka tla ke sianetse motseng kere ke ya go lebelela. Ee nka kgabodisa matlho ka post ya budget speech e ka kgabola mo Facebook eseng ke leba ka masheta. Ese kgang ya gore I’m interested ele kgang ya gore ke batla go bona gore diministry dihilwe bokahe.
I don’t even care how that money is going to be used.
I also understand that after a financial year some ministries ba kgona go busa madi mme ba sa a dirisa sepe. The funds should be used to benefit even an ordinary citizen. Job creation and proper infrastructure. A country cannot be the same after so many years.”