02 May 2013

Shoshong MP, Mr Phillip Makgalemele has advised youth to always listen to the budget speech when presented in Parliament.

Speaking at the official opening of the Shoshong Youth Economic Empowerment festival recently, Mr Makgalemele said the budget is a more of a tender document to a business person as it presents figures which one can ultimately tender for.

He pointed out that as the budget is presented, it is important for the youth to underline and understand the budget breakdown for all the ministries.

Mr Makgalemele said at the stage of budget proposals, each ministry’s expenditure for both development and recurrent budgets are presented purely as proposals.

Thus, he said it is important to appreciate how much funds have been allocated for what to help business people know what to tender for.

He said certain government policies help in ensuring a budget benefits to Batswana businesses.

MP Makgalemele said the citizen Economic Empowerment policy (EDD) has eight strategic pillars and one of those pillars is that the national budget be used to empower citizens.

He said at the Local council level, the government has Local Economic Development (LED) whereas EDD is at the national level of the Ministry of Trade and industry of which he said both are encouraged to purchase from local businesses.

However, he stressed that government business is not only the source of income for businesses.

For her part Mahalapye District Youth Officer, Ms Tootini Mogopa encouraged the youth to make use of various initiatives brought forward by government in trying to improve their living standards.

Ms Mogopa advised the young entrepreneurs to always draw a good business plan which has good objectives and aims as they drive the business to be of a success.

She said “gone are the days when the youth think businesses are only for the elders”, but also the youth can have their own businesses.

She said when writing proposals, they should use proper English so that the proposal can be understood. ENDS