VP Masisi, be warned about youth unemployement
Mmegi Editor | Wednesday August 10, 2016 11:59
Conservative estimates of unemployment, especially amongst the youth, stand at 20 percent. This is not a laughing matter. It is not in dispute that Botswana has undergone tremendous economic transformation since gaining independence 50 years ago. We are often told how through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country. But youth unemployment remain our Achilles heel.
In response, the government hosted the first ever Job Summit at the Gaborone International Convention Centre last year. It is a year since the Summit and the nation is still awaiting feedback from the VP.
That is why some unemployed youth this week took their struggle to the doors of the National Assembly. We cannot blame the unemployed youth for the radical action they took which resulted in them being brutally assaulted and unlawfully arrested by the overzealous members of Botswana Police Service (BPS).
We recall that the same police officers unlawfully arrested members of #IShallNotForget movement when they protested about the abuse of the girl child few months ago. Typical of members of the BPS, instead of giving the activists the platform to protest, the police acted callously and arrested the activists. On Monday, barbarism unfolded just outside the Parliament.
Characteristic of the police, they sjamboked the poor and desperate members of unemployed movement for the so-called ‘unlawful’ assembly. Journalists and members of the civil society were caught in the barbaric crossfire, with four members of the media detained for few hours in Gaborone Central Police cells for doing their job – seeking answers.
A videographer from eBotswana was detained and spent hours in interrogation for doing his job - capturing police brutality on camera, and refusing to bow to pressure to delete the said pictures.
Others were forced to delete videos and pictures in their cameras. All this done by the men and women in uniform engaged to protect, not brutally assault and illegally detain the innocent. The institution that recently celebrated 132 years of ‘excellent’ service. Because they found out that they overreacted by assaulting the poor unemployed, the police released them without any charges.
We caution the police against being overzealous and acting outside the confines of the law. Government loses millions through lawsuits because of some overexcited police officers who do not have regard for human rights.
We call upon the police commissioner to investigate this issue and take action against the culprits. We also call upon Masisi and the government to resolve the youth unemployment. Youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The power that be, should be forewarned.
Today’s thought
“We’re not anti-police... we’re anti-police brutality.”
- Al Sharpton