Leaders petition Matlanyane over youths’ concerns

MOSA MAOENG

MASERU – Concerned youth leaders including Bachashutdown, EarthCare Alliance and Social Justice have petitioned the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane to review economic policies, specifically on youth matters. Among their concerns, the youth leaders would like to see the recently launched Youth Mentorship Programme running soon, in less than eight weeks, and the National Volunteers Corps Programme to increase the number of youth at least by more than double before the end of this year.

EarthCare Alliance Executive Director, Kopano Khama, said they were hoping to receive a response to their letter within 10 working days, saying they were looking at the urgency of most of their concerns. “However, we do believe that there are matters like reforms on the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) which shall be an ongoing process, and this is where we say we are always open for dialogue to see how these issues can be resolved in the interest of youths of this country,” said Khama in an interview with Public Eye this week.

In their letter written to Matlanyane dated November 21, the youth leaders had, among others, requested a review of the budget specifically on youth related matters of which they are very worried that the mid-term budget speech does not talk to them as young people. “We were heartened by the government’s dedication, as articulated in the budget speech to the finalisation of the Youth Development Bill and the allocation of resources for National Youth Council elections in the fiscal year 2023/2024,” reads the youth leaders’ letter to the Matlanyane.

“These initiatives signify significant steps towards a more inclusive and participatory governance framework. We appreciated and applauded the government’s promise to facilitate youth access to the established Entrepreneurship Development Fund.” The letter further reads: “As you rightly pointed out this will improve access to finance for youth seeking to start or improve their income generating projects.

“We also welcome the idea of equipping aspiring youth entrepreneurs with trainings to start or improve their businesses, create an enabling environment for them to network and market their businesses and also offer support through mentorship programmes.”

The youth leaders further said in the letter that they saw the launch of the Youth Mentorship Programme on August 12 this year so they were hoping to see it running very soon, in less than eight weeks. The National Volunteers Corps Programme, which has about 108 youth from about 13 000 registered youth in a year, said they would like the number to increase at least by more than double before the end of the year.

“We also applaud the Minister for assuring Basotho that the government will continue to support free primary education programme,” the youth leaders’ letter reads. “We would like to take this key opportunity to urge the Minister to ensure secondary and high school education is also fully free for all students in Lesotho as the country experiences high levels of youth school drop outs.”

The letter further reads: “We have heard many heartbreaking stories of young people whose families, on account of school fees, were not able to pay for their education which contributes to the increase of HIV/AIDS and early child marriage.” Presenting the budget speech to the parliament for the 2023/2024 fiscal year in February this year, Matlanyane said her ministry aimed to finalise the Youth Development Act and mobilise resources to hold National Youth Council elections.

The Minister said they would continue to disseminate the National Youth Policy to the youth of Lesotho and stakeholders to increase awareness of the policy document.

“Access to finance for youth remains a major concern. The government will therefore facilitate youth access to the established Entrepreneurship Development Fund to improve access to finance for youth seeking to start or improve their income generating projects,” Matlanyane said.

“The ministry will continue to equip aspiring youth entrepreneurs with training to start and improve their businesses, create an enabling environment for them to network and market their businesses and also offer support through mentorship programmes.”

Matlanyane added that as another way to increase youth employment, her ministry would continue to enhance employability of youth and instil the spirit of patriotism by engaging them as volunteers and placing them with host institutions for a period of two years to gain valuable work experience under the National Volunteers Corps programme.