When addressing members of the media, who were on a bush camp organised by Cheetah Conservation Botswana as part of their 20th anniversary recently, he expressed concern that young people don’t attend school as they should. Manka highlighted that most of the youth is idle and frustrated, with nothing to do. “One of the things that I’m concerned about is youth who don't go to school. Once they fail Form 3, that’s the end. They don’t have educational opportunities to further their studies. They're just idle and roam the village. Their parents are not encouraging them to go back to school and further their studies. I’m very concerned about this issue,” he said.
Manka highlighted that the situation has left many young people in the village with a bleak future as unemployment is also skyrocketing. Furthermore, Manka said he was also worried that the young have no interest in engaging in agricultural activities for the sustenance of their livelihoods. He stated that many of them are too relaxed and complacent with the monthly food basket from government; as such they don’t want to produce for themselves. “The youth don’t want to plough to feed their families once they are done with school. They just wait for the food basket relief and that’s it. But they shouldn't rely on government and consider agriculture to sustain themselves,” he said.
