BDP inaugural youth council for Mosu
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday January 7, 2016 14:30
“We will come up with ideas on how best the government can deal with youth unemployment, which is threatening to spiral out of control in the country.
“Unemployment among young people is a serious concern to every Motswana, which is why it will be the highlight of the national youth council,” BDP national youth executive committee (NYEC) chairman Andy Boatile said in an interview yesterday.
President Ian Khama will officially open the national youth council while Vice President (VP) Mokgweetsi Masisi, who has been given a special task of dealing with unemployment in the country by the former will close the event.
Boatile also said that the two-day council will discuss other government initiatives meant to empower the youth.
“The discussions will centre on whether youth empowerment initiatives such as the Youth Development Fund (YDF) and the internship programme are effective or not, and how they can best be improved to maximise their efficiency,” said Boatile.
The NYEC chairperson added that the council, which will attract 250 youth leaders from the party’s 57 constituencies including NYEC members, will also look at the limitations of the country’s education system and how it can be improved to meet the needs of various industries.
Boatile further said some ministers from key ministries such as that of Trade and Industry as well as Lands and Housing, will also feature at the youth council where they will make presentations and share ideas with participants on how best their ministries can serve the youth.
Last year February the ruling party youth at its elective congress in Masunga took a decision to establish a formal ‘national youth council’.
Prior to the formalisation of the youth council the BDP seedbed used to have gatherings similar to the youth council but they were not formalised nor sanctioned in the party calendar. They were not even held regularly.
In Masunga the BDP youth said that having a formal national youth council that is sanctioned in the party annual calendar of events will give them an opportunity to discuss youth challenges and how to continually mitigate against them.
The national council will take place on an annual basis.