Mokgware cautions Gov’t on soldiers, Youth
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Member of Parliament (MP) for Gabane-Mankgodi, Major General Pius Mokgware has told government that the escalating number of unemployed youth and angry soldiers at the barracks pose a great threat to the security and economy of the country.
Debating the budget for Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture presented by Thapelo Olopeng in Parliament this week, Mokgware said that the youth are slowly becoming frustrated and disgruntled as the government is failing to create decent jobs for them.
“Madam Speaker, I am really concerned about our young people who continue to loiter around the streets with nothing to do. This is a testimony that the interventions by the government to tackle unemployment have proved futile,” he said.
General Mokgware told Parliament that educated and jobless youth can be an easy target for terrorists. “We have IT graduates who lead the pack of unemployed graduates.
These people can be recruited by terrorists to develop software and viruses in order to hack our computers, destabilise water and electricity systems and destroy this country in the blink of an eye,” he cautioned. Mokgware reiterated that if the mounting problem of youth unemployment is not taken care of, young people may divert their energies to cyber warfare and use their expertise to the advantage of terrorist organisations like Boko Haram, al Queda and al Shabaab.
“We invest a lot in our education sector but I am disappointed that we cannot create decent jobs for these graduates. Majority of them are underemployed and exploited through programmes like internship and graduate volunteer scheme. Our country is in danger because these people can use their vast knowledge and skills to shut down the traffic lights and railway system as it once happened in London about eleven years ago,” he added.
Mokgware, the retired commander of the BDF ground forces observed that many young people across the country are becoming militant and radicalised, a development he said may spell doom for the country. He said violent youth who continue to terrorise people in Palapye, Thamaga, Molepolole and Kanye were just a tip of the iceberg.
He further told Parliament that Botswana should be warry of cyber spying and espionage saying that in many countries it was the idle youth who were at the helm of such activities. In addition, he said, drug lords and mafias can end up using the youth to distribute their harmful products in schools and in the end this could impact on the country’s health system as the country will have to build many rehabilitation centres.
“Rural-urban migration is on the rise and the skyrocketing unemployment could trigger riots and increase crime statistics,” he further remarked.
Mokgware suggested that the government should engage the private sector in creating employment for the youth instead of “starving the private sector as it even decided not to engage it in the Economic Stimulus Program.”
He called on the government to provide full time employment for special constables and temporary teachers.
He also blasted Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA) doubting the accreditation capacity of the institution as it was not affiliated to any international body. He said the country has the capability to export its graduates to other developing countries like South Sudan but that was impossible as the local universities were producing half-baked graduates.
Contributing to the budget of Ministry of Security, Defence and Security, Mokgware alleged that members of disciplined forces were not happy with their welfare.
“An angry soldier is a threat to the country as he is capable of doing anything,” he debated in Parliament.
Mokgware implored the government to improve the welfare of soldiers, police officers and prison warders including providing them with decent housing and regular reviews of their salaries.
Meanwhile, the second meeting of the second session of the 11th Parliament ended this week with members debating and approving the national budget which was presented by Minister of Finance and Development planning, Kenneth Mathambo last month.
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BCP, AP stalemate in 7 constituencies
When the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Alliance for Progressives, Botswana Labour Party (BLP), and conveners reconvene next week, the controversial issue of allocation of the seven constituencies will be the main topic of discussion, WeekendPost can reveal.
Not only that, but the additional four constituencies will also dominate the talks. The idea is to finally close the “constituency allocation phase,” which has proven to be the most difficult part of the ongoing negotiations.
Earlier this year, the two parties announced that the marathon talks would be concluded by February. Even at a media briefing last month, BCP Secretary General Goretetse Kekgonegile and Publicity Secretary Dr. Mpho Pheko were optimistic that the negotiations would be concluded before the end of February.
However, it is now mid-March and the talks have yet to be concluded. What could be the reasons for the delay? This is a question that both Kekgonegile and Pheko have not responded to, as they have ignored the reporters’ inquiries. However, a senior figure within the party has confided to this publication as to what is delaying the highly anticipated negotiations.
“We are reconvening next week to finalize constituency allocations, taking into account the additional four new ones plus the outstanding seven,” he explained. It later surfaced that Gaborone Central, Gaborone North, Mogoditshane, Tswapong North, Francistown West, Tati West, and Nata Gweta are all contested by both BCP and AP. This is because the other 50 constituencies were allocated by December of last year.
The three parties have failed to find common ground for the Bosele Ward by-elections. Are these constituencies not a deal breaker for the talks? “None of the constituencies is a deal breaker,” responded a very calm BCP official.
In Bosele Ward, AP has yielded to BCP, despite most of its members disapproving the decision. On the other hand, BLP has refused, and it will face off with BCP together with Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
The decision by BLP to face off with BCP has been labelled as a false start for the talks by political observers.
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Botswana approves extradition of British fugitive
Raiz Ahmed Tayub, a British fugitive sought by Interpol for his involvement in human trafficking and slave trade crimes, was captured by the Botswana Police Service (BPS) earlier this year.
Merapelo Mokgosi, the Assistant Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), confirmed that he will be extradited to France, where he is wanted for his crimes.
“It is true that Tayub will be extradited to France, where he has been wanted for some time,” says Mokgosi.
She explained that the fugitive was arrested by the Botswana Police in early January while attempting to enter Botswana through the Pioneer border gate. Since his arrest, he has been appearing before the Lobatse Magistrate Court to fight his release from custody and to object to his extradition to France. During his court appearance, Tayub opted for voluntary extradition.
“He opted for voluntary extradition, which the extradition Act allows,” said Mokgosi. She added that the suspect was not under duress when he chose voluntary extradition. Soon after he made this choice, the Ministry of Justice was notified, and the minister approved his extradition. Preparations are still underway to fly the wanted man to France, and once the necessary paperwork is completed between the two nations, the suspect will be extradited.
Mokgosi indicated that plans were still being made to complete the suspect’s extradition to France, and the Botswana government would pay for his flight along with his escort.
Meanwhile, the court has ordered the Botswana Prison Services (BPS) to provide the Islamic British fugitive with “halal food” while he is in custody.
In an earlier court application, Tayub had asked to be detained at a five-star hotel, as he could pay for it until the completion of his case. He also argued that he should not have to wear a prison uniform due to the Covid-19 outbreak. He was thought to have been traveling to Malawi at the time of his capture.
When delivering the order, the principal magistrate, Gofaone Morwang, said the detainee should be provided with halal daily rations with immediate effect while he is in custody. The magistrate dismissed TAYUB’s application for hotel detention and exemption from wearing a prison uniform.
News
Botswana approves extradition of British fugitive
Raiz Ahmed Tayub, a British fugitive sought by Interpol for his involvement in human trafficking and slave trade crimes, was captured by the Botswana Police Service (BPS) earlier this year.
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