Written by AUBREY LUTE
The Minister of Youth Sport and Culture, Shaw Kgathi, has banned executive members of the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) from active politics, effective April 30th 2010.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry, Kgathi met the Executive Council of the BNYC on 16th March 2010 to discuss the role of the BNYC and Youth Development.
“The Minister reminded the Council that the BNYC was established as a non-sectarian and non-partisan organisation which should have no formal or informal association with any political party,” read the statement.
Kgathi is said to have called on the BNYC to avoid active political participation by the Executive Council, its Management and its Governance structures in order not to undermine the purpose for which the organisation was established, as well as polarise the organisation along political lines.
“The Youth leaders were given up to 30th April 2010 to make a decision, and to have resigned any executive positions which they may be holding in any political party, if they wish to continue serving as executive members of the Council”.
The Minister and the Youth Council agreed on the importance of rebranding the organisation and rebuilding its image to restore its credibility as a youth serving organisation and key adviser to Government on matters pertaining to the youth.
Sources say that the decision is likely to affect the current chairman of the BNYC Council, Chomi Letlole, who has shown interest in running for the position of secretary general of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Youth Wing at its elective congress in April.
The Executive Director of the BNYC, Fidelis Molao, will also be affected because he has not yet resigned from his position as chairman of the Tonota North BDP region.
Some executive Council members are also understood to be vying for various positions within the BDP Youth Wing structures.
The Botswana Gazette
