A More Overarching Law Proposed
The Minister of Youth Sport and Culture, Ms Gladys Kokorwe has withdrawn the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) Bill pending the drafting of an overarching bill that will not only cover the BNYC but youth issues in general. The Minister is of the view that the bill is not adequate as it only addresses a certain portion of the youth. The withdrawn bill was lined up for discussion by the former Minister, Major General Moeng Pheto who has since been dropped from cabinet.
Kokorwe confirmed to The Gazette that she has withdrawn the bill and currently they are working on amending the Botswana National Youth Act of 1996. But the Minister added that her ministry will in future bring to Parliament a more representative legislation, “maybe under the title Youth Act, Youth development act or something that will cover all youth matters,” she said.
She said they will do to the BNYC what they did to the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC). “Instead of coming with a bill to deal with BNSC, we are drafting a Sports Act which will include the BNSC as an institution,” she said.
She said it is in the interest of the public to come up with laws that have a broader approach or have an overarching role.
A former Chairperson of the Youth Council, a member of the Executive Board of BNYC and a practicing lawyer, Batsho Nthoi said he agrees with what the Ministry is proposing. He said coming up with an overarching legislation will ensure that all youth institutions are covered in the law.
He said as young people they want the BNYC to be given statutory recognition so that it will survive all governments, “as it is now, it is just existing because of a presidential directive hence it can be dissolved at any time,” he said.
He said a statutory recognition will also pay dividends in that they will have the legal backing to make budgetary proposals every financial year.
Nthoi said the youth Council is lacking behind in terms of financing because they have been receiving P5.6 million from government for the past 10 years. But in comparison to the Sports Council, they started with a budget of P 9.5 million then they went up to P25 million and today they are at P 52 million, said Nthoi.
He pointed out that the withdrawal of the act has got nothing to do with recent reports that clouded the Youth Council. He said they are corporate governance issues that the Executive Council has to look into. He said it is important not to rush the Act so that all issues are covered, especially looking at the fact that the withdrawn bill had certain contentious issues, with this one we have enough time to come up with concrete proposals,” he said.
He said the Youth Policy was reviewed in 2004, and they are proposals on the table on how it could be enhanced but they have not reached parliament yet, “the proposals are meant to ensure that the policy is broad and covers all youth matter of youth
Nthoi said her was happy that the Minister is giving them audience in regard to all decisions she makes on matter affecting young people. He said what Minister Kokorwe is doing by consulting the youth council allows the Council to play its advisory role to government, we will give her support , he said.
BY AUBREY LUTE
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