UNEMPLOYED YOUTH CLASH WITH POLICE AT PARLIAMENT

The Botswana Movement for Democracy Youth League (BMDYL) has noted with disgust, shame and abhorrence scenes at parliament on Monday where young people of this country were attacked and shamboked by Botswana Police for demanding jobs.

Young people who are unemployed engaged on a peaceful demonstration by parliament and were attacked apartheid style by the police who are supposed to be protecting them. This is the most undemocratic, unfortunate act to be displayed by the police in 50 years of independence. Though Botswana is seen as a shining example of a democratic state from outside, those who live in it will tell you that there is no freedom of expression in Botswana.

As a youth organisation, which has the best interest of young people at heart, we have been shouting at the top of our voices calling for economic transformation that will see young people being consumed onto the job market. The ruling party does not take any of this as it continues to splash money on corrupt activities such as Bots50 (Golden Jubilee independence celebrations) and many others.

The arrest of some of these young people clearly indicates the arrogance, none tolerant government of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). We call on the release of all those who have been arrested including leaders of political parties. We also want to thank the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leaders, MPs and Batswana at large who did their best to protect these young people who were not insulting any paranoid government but simply asking for jobs.

We want to continue to urge Batswana to take themselves seriously, know what they are worth and what they deserve and ensure that they speak and send a clear message to this bully government by voting it out and begin a new dawn of democracy in our country. BDP has run out of ideas in addressing challenges and issues besieging the country and its time for Batswana to send it packing.

The country is on autopilot with a vacuum in leadership and this has become very distasteful & equally embarrassing. The current government is regressing and reversing all gains that have been achieved in over 40 years of our democracy. Many of our graduates are roaming the streets while its business as usual at the government enclave. It is sickening to see a government that is not obsessed in securing the future of its youth with unemployment rate estimated at 35% of which 90% is young people under the age of 35.

We urge you to continue to fight for your rights until the last drop of your blood, stand for what you believe in and the fruits of your struggles shall one day be written in the history of this country. Yours in StruggleKagelelo Banks Kentse

BMDYL President