Higher Rates of Un-Hired Youth in Botswana

The youth question government focus as unemployment continues to climb in Botswana.

By: David Michael

Produced & edited by: Alex Lumley

Botswana's Coat of Arms. Photo via Wikipedia.

A group garbed in graduation gowns gathered outside parliament in Gaborone, Botswana in early August. The young people were brought together by an organization known as the “#UnemploymentMovement.” 

They were there to protest against continued unemployment of the youth by the ruling BDP government. The police later beat the protestors, forcing them to disperse.

Movements such as these are becoming more frequent as the country’s unemployment rate continues to grow and the youth become more disgruntled. The issue has gained recognition in even the most rural areas.

The most recent, officially recorded unemployment rate in Botswana is 20 percent, as per the Botswana Aids Impact Survey in 2013. According to worldbank.org, the unemployment rate for youth, those aged 15-24, is 33 percent.

“At our University, if 7,000 graduate, only about 2,000 get jobs,” Gonne Majwabe, a student at the University at Botswana (UB), said.

Is College Worth It?

A growing number of students are concerned about whether seeking an education is worthwhile. To many, a degree has become worth less and less. Boitumelo Mokoka, an intern at SADC Secretariat, is concerned over the recognition of her chosen field.

“Just from the tiresome process of seeking an organization to work in, I realized that most organizations and companies are not aware of the existence of my program of study,” she said. “It made me wonder about the relevance of my course in the current job market.”

Thuso Mphela, a professor at the University of Botswana, is disheartened that the youth can’t get jobs in their “prime productive years.” He believes the inability to get jobs hurts the quality of academic programs at the University. The professor claimed it’s becoming less about academic excellence and more about the connections you make.

"Most organizations and companies are not aware of the existence of my program of study."

“The two most critical advices I give are 'be the best at what you do' and 'network, network and network',” he said. “I for one get many consulting jobs because of my networks.”

Frustrations Over Government Spending 

Youths and organizations like #UnemploymentMovement have also targeted the spending on the country’s upcoming 50^th year of independence festival occurring at the end of September, the “Golden Jubilee.” While the majority still believes 50 years of independence is something to celebrate, many youths are protesting the government’s management of the program.

The government organizes celebrations like the
Golden Jubilee and Police Day, pictured here.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

“I still see the need to celebrate this day no matter the situation, its just the way the planning has been done is what is really upsetting,” Mokoka said. “Most local artists are unhappy that the government is using a lot of money to pay a certain South African artist to perform on the day, instead of calling them for the event.”

There has also been frustration due to the cost of the festivities. The government is spending close to $100 million on the celebrations. Events include fireworks, theatrical re-enactments of historical events, performances of classical and modern Botswana plays, film presentations, traditional and cultural festivals, debates, panel discussions and a Miss Botswana beauty contest.

 “We have ministries pleading with the government for money,” Segomotso Gomolemo Kgwatalala, a student at UB, said. “We have so many things that I feel like if 100 million could be divided among those different ministries then things would be better, Botswana would be satisfied with the service provision in these government sectors.”

Government Efforts To Provide Jobs

For unemployed graduates, the government has developed a program called the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES). YES gives money for salaries to businesses to hire graduates on in intern-like positions. However, these are usually lower end jobs such as restaurants and filling stations. The jobs only offer bare minimum wage, usually only up to 1,200 pula. 

After having spent time seeking an education many are frustrated with this idea. Gofaone Bornwell Moditswe is a student at the University of Botswana who does not see the program as doing enough.

“Rent is like 250 dollars, food 150 dollars, electricity 20 dollars,” Moditswe said. ”If I include transport then it is as good as nothing.”

“It’s a good movement to say we need to make more jobs, but the government system isn’t working,” he said. “There’s a level of exploitation in it.”

Other groups believe the societal values of personal independence have turned to an over-dependence on government.

“It is enough that we already depend so much on government. I mean everything in Botswana is free: school, medical services, we are even paid to go to school,” Gorata Keitseope, an employee at the UB Career and Counseling Centre said. “People should think of things that they can do to create the jobs themselves rather than point fingers at government.”

Do-It-Yourself Employment Opportunities 

Some students are trying to create their own entrepreneurial opportunities. At 29, Dimpho Madema recently created her own steel fabrication business, Miracle Steel Products. Her example inspires others.

“The country needs young people to rise and meet today's challenges and provide solutions even for unemployment.”

Moditswe looks to start a business not only for himself, but for his daughter and other future generations as well.

“I will take it upon myself to create a job for her now that I have seen how high unemployment rates are in Botswana,” he said.

The government supports some start up businesses. The Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture has funded growth-oriented citizen owned youth enterprises and other start-up projects through the Youth Development Fund. To apply for funding, the young person must attend an orientation, meet with relevant experts and Youth Officers, conduct market research, and submit an application for acceptance.

Those seeking to build their own businesses believe the protestors are putting too much on the government.  Others with this ideology believe that there needs to be more focus on the homogenous economy and slow industrialization. They encourage the young people to instead create their own industries.

“The country needs young people to rise and meet today's challenges and provide solutions even for unemployment.” Mphela said. “So having said that, the question might be whether 50 years of independence is true independence to the ordinary person. Now that's a big question, only the people can answer.”

November Uprising: Jordanian’s call for reform

By: Gina Mussio
Produced and edited by: Molly Nocheck

The Arab Spring has largely steered clear of Jordan, a US ally and relatively stable country. After recent protests, however, all that has changed.

Thousands crowded the streets across the country protesting the sharp increase in gas and fuel prices announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.

“People were there shouting and cursing the government and demanding they rescind the decision,” said Ahmad Tawalbeh, a chemical engineering major at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. “I went with my friend to protest because like a lot of Jordanian citizens I don't agree with the decision and I see it’s unfair for us.”

Jordan’s neighbors in the Middle East have seen their fair share of uprisings and demonstrations as well, starting in late 2010 with the Tunisia Revolution, and reaching its height spring of last year when thousands of Egyptians protested and called for the resignation of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Since then, rulers have been forced from power in Libya and Yemen and civil uprisings have erupted in Bahrain and Syria.

Jordan too has seen its fair share of protests, over 2,000 in the past two years, but nearly all have been peaceful, with cooperation between both the citizens and the police. Now, however, demonstrations have turned violent. Protesters have been sprayed with water and tear gas, police hit with rocks and two people have been reported killed.

After hearing about the protests, Naseer Alomari, a Jordanian-American principal in Westchester County and online advocate for Middle Eastern democracy, called his family in Jordan to make sure everything was okay. A large demonstration was taking place in Irbid, the city closest to his hometown, and he hoped his family could keep him updated.

His 24-year-old niece, Rawan, explained the situation to him via Skype – the tenseness, the discontent among people throughout Jordan and the conversations happening among friends and neighbors. Alomari’s brother was also in the room, simultaneously calling friends to learn what was going on in the streets below.

It was then that he received a phone call from another relative, telling him that his and Alomari’s cousin had been shot in the chest. Qais Al Omari, 27, was the first killed during the protests on Wednesday, Nov. 14 in downtown Irbid.

Qais' Coffin. Credit:  Naseer Alomar

“It’s still mind boggling that this would happen,” Alomari said. “He didn’t get to the hospital – Qais did not even make it to the hospital. He passed away.”

The village was traditionally supportive of the government, after this, however, the support of the people eroded. Demonstrators burned down the municipality building, as well as several vehicles belonging to the municipality.

“It was amazing that the first person to fall was in that small town where the king has a lot of support – or used to have,” Alomari said.

There is no doubt that Jordanians are angry. Unemployment in the cash-strapped nation is at 12 percent, with the highest rate, 27.2 percent, among young people between 20-24 years. In fact, similar to Egypt and Tunisia, its predecessors in protest, the youth are largely responsible for organizing protests and spurring conversation online and on the ground.

“My cousin, he has been looking for a job ever since I’ve known him. He’s 27 years old and he’s never held a decent job. When he died yesterday he didn’t have a job,” Alomari said. “People are afraid that they are not going to be able to support their families.”

The protests continued for days, with citizens chanting anti-regime slogans, calling the king a gambler in reference to his accused corruption, and supporting the downfall of the regime.

“I think most Jordanians have lost optimism,” said Zaid Samkari, a 24-year-old medical student and democracy activist in Jordan. “People are really frustrated and they are really angry. We are not seeing any serious measures taking place. The only thing we’re seeing is the government asking us to pay the price.”

Samkari, a member of the youth Herak movement, did not participate in the most recent protests because he doesn’t support their call for the downfall of the regime, but his discontent is palpable. The people’s demands are legitimate, he said, they want to elect a government, a parliament that represents Jordanians, to get through the economic crises and end government corruption. He acknowledged that this will not come easily.

“I’m really scared that things might develop like it has in many other Arab countries,” Samkari said. “Honestly speaking, most Jordanians don’t want that. We want the regime to be wise enough to make true reform without any bloodshed.”

The U.S.-backed Jordanian government has often issued government subsidies to placate the people, this time though, the cash ran out. The state attempted to institute austerity measures, such as the fuel price increase, to reduce a growing budget deficit and decrease public spending.

The protests have continued despite the violence, roadblocks set up by the police and hundreds jailed. Tawalbeh went to protest again after Friday prayer, Nov 16, taking video and continuing to support other citizens and friends on the streets.

Though none have said they believe the protests can be labeled a “revolution” yet, all acknowledge that Jordan is in uncharted waters and that the people are not going to give up their requests for reform.

“We are looking for a better future; We are looking for corrupts to be jailed; We want a democratic government that are elected by the people not appointed; We want a better future for the next generations,” Samkari said.

Unemployment in Morocco

by Brigitta Burks

edited by Alexandru Cristea

A high rate of youth unemployment in Morocco has led highly educated, but jobless citizens to protest daily in front of the Parliament in Rabat. Nearly 40 percent of the youths, ranging from 15-29 years old, are unemployed, according to Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), an organization working toward poverty alleviation. The total unemployment rate is at 9 percent.

Adil Sadoq runs MEDA’s Morocco and Egypt field projects out of Casablanca. He said although most of the protestors are highly educated with master’s degrees, his work tends to target the “middle-class” who usually have high school degrees or other training. The youth unemployment problem stems from Morocco’s education system, Sadoq explained. The system trains students for government work, which is largely unavailable.

“The answer to the need is enterprise,” Sadoq said.

To create youth enterprise, MEDA helps young people create savings accounts, provides them with training and loans, and arranges internships for them. The program mostly targets the youths in villages and small cities in the east and south. One Southern woman, only identified as Bahija, took advantage of the free job training and now runs a small sewing business from her home. She attributed her success to MEDA, which taught her to save her earnings. She and her husband now employ other locals in their business.

Internships are another core part of MEDA’s occupation opportunities in Morocco. It offers $80 a month to supplement unpaid internships. MEDA also ensures that interns get real work experience and keeps close tabs on the internship programs. Many Moroccan youths also are enrolled in universities in Morocco, France and a few in the United States. Ahmed Radi, a professor at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, Morocco, said some of his students are concerned about finding a job after graduation.

“I think the worry is there,” he said, adding that if students work hard, they likely will find a job.

One of Radi’s students, Hassan Chikh, said his uncle, who has a Ph.D in physics, used to protest in front of Parliament until he found a job. When asked if he would consider protesting if he couldn’t find work after graduation, Chikh said yes, but added of protesting, “It’s not that rewarding.”

Chikh will graduate from Cadi Ayyad University next year and after that he said he hopes to earn a masters degree so he can become a translator. Still, finding a suitable job is already on Chikh’s mind.

He said, “My family will start worrying,” if he does not find a job within two years of completing school. “It will be really heart-breaking.”

Casablanca native, Bouchra Kachoub, now a master’s degree student and Arabic teacher at Ohio University, said that young Moroccans often stay with their family until marriage even if they find a job.

Some young people abuse that privilege, Kachoub added.

“You have to do something,” she said, although she added “Your parents will never mind,” if you stay at home and live on their money.

However, Sadoq said he noticed a change in the traditional Moroccan family structure when the young people took advantage of programs like MEDA.

“I was impressed with 21 and 22 year-olds taking care of their families (financially),” he said.

Kachoub said she may return to Morocco after graduation to teach English. However, she said that most academic institutes want native English speakers to teach English, which could leave her as one of the young and unemployed.

Still, she added, “I am optimistic.”

Her degree from the United States may aid her in her job hunt.

“It has value, even before you get back,” she said, explaining that many students get offers while they are still completing their degrees overseas.

Regardless, educated youths, like Kachoub and Chikh, may have an even harder time finding work than illiterate peasants in Morocco.

“Whatever job they find, they do it,” Sadoq said of illiterate class.

About 48 percent of Morocco’s population cannot read, according to the Central Intelligence Agency. The work that the illiterate youths often find is construction or manual labor.

Factories and call centers are another large employer in Morocco, Kachoub said, adding, “an illiterate person will always find a job.”

Educated Moroccans often will not take jobs like these even when they are desperate for cash. Unemployment for Moroccans with degrees is at 17 percent while unemployment for Moroccans without degrees is 4 percent, according to MEDA.

“If you are really highly qualified, you may not find a job that meets your qualifications,” Kachoub explained.

She said that she believes if young people took other employment while they searched for their dream jobs, youth unemployment could go down.

“You can be a secretary while you’re looking for a teaching job,” Kachoub said.

Many people still look to the government to solve the problem.

“I think the government is really aware of it (youth unemployment),” Radi said.

One measure the government has taken is offering early retirement to teachers to make room for younger educators like her, Kachoub indicated. However, some say there is nothing the government can do.

“The government cannot help them (the unemployed) anymore,” Sadoq said.

He added that he thinks practical solutions, like those that MEDA offers, are the answer.

Kachoub and Chikh said they believe the perfect job is out there for them.

“Of course, you have to make the effort,”Kachoub also said.

Photos courtesy of magharebia.com and rnw.nl