Mafeteng, July 31 — The Minister of Youth, Gender and Social Development Mr. Pitso Lesaoana says his ministry needs to have a database of businesses being owned by youth countrywide.
He was addressing youth at the Sebabatso Road Show held in the district on Thursday where he said the move will help them to support youth financially where they need help.
The Minister indicated that up to this far he is convinced that youth have potential to produce standard products to be sold at international markets, urging them to continue working hard.
He highlighted that currently there are about 90 youth businesses supported with 2.5 million and giving back over M20 million where they have created 323 jobs without being assisted.
Speaking at the same occasion the Ministry’s District welfare Manager, Mr. Bernard Mokhachane encouraged youth to engage in business and work hard in ensuring generating income for their basic needs while at the same time creating jobs for their unemployed counterparts.
He said for a long time the government of Lesotho and non-governmental organisations were employing the majority of youth after completing tertiary education in large numbers while currently there are no such opportunities and the majority of youth are struggling.
Mr. Mokhachane urged youth to work cooperatively and reopen a farm building that is serving as a white elephant after its closure some years back, leaving the majority unemployed, adding that youth could also cultivate garlic, onion and pepper as such vegetables are mostly being used by every household.
On the other hand, one of the youths who has been supported by Sebabatso Programme, Thebe Tsatsi from Mokhotlong said he is a fashion designer and entered the Sebabatso competition where he got fourth prize.
He encouraged his counterparts to enter Sebabatso competition, saying it is important even if they do not win as they will be in the system where it will be easy to be supported, urging them to sell their business as they have potential.
Tsatsi informed his counterparts that he is in a position to draw and ended up making a full cloth product unlike in the past where they were not allowed to start a product from scratch up to the end, urging them to invest from their dream using all the knowledge they have.
On behalf of youth Benard Nthaha who is engaged in crop production said he has six years in agriculture without success due to a problem of shortage of financial support when it comes to chemicals used to control pests.
He said fortunately he has land near the dam but needs drip irrigation equipment to help to irrigate his crops, saying his plan is to see his farm grown up to the level of employing other youth but it is not easy.
Benard indicated that some of his counterparts are lacking storage for their production, saying some have small businesses that need financial support to grow, saying the ministry should provide youth with basic needs in business to develop their business.
Sebabatso Roadshows are being held countrywide with the aim of encouraging youth to establish different businesses of their own choice to generate income and create jobs for unemployed youth.
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