Youth minister gets first test

Botswana’s only youth minister Bogolo Kenewendo will have to show poise and courage soon. It is alleged that the public is challenging her and her ministry (Investment & Trade) to raise the minimum working wage in Botswana. The petition headed by the young Rethabile Konopo who has since been a face of the youth rights has been directly addressed to the young minister in person.

According to the petition, the ministry at hand and the sitting government to joint incorporate the right to living wage and prioritise it for workers; suppliers; buyers and others with whom they do business with. It further reads that the current minimum wage has perpetuated modern slavery in the labour market especially by giving foreign owned businesses leverage to exploit Batswana. 37.7% of youth live on less than P40/per day despite having a job.