IEC targets youth as its foot soldiers

Kgomotso Molelekeng
Correspondent | Friday August 30, 2013 00:00

Speaking to Mmegi at a workshop for the group at Oasis Motel in Tlokweng, IEC spokesperson Osupile Maroba said they chose the young leaders based on their commitment to their communities.'We chose ones who have the spirit of volunteering and those that really showed interest and mostly understanding of this initiative,' Maroba said.  He pointed out that they would be drilling the leaders on the objectives of the IEC and its part in the elections at the two-day workshop.He said the IEC realised that young people feel comfortable when talking to each other and they mostly believe in youth to youth education.

Officially opening the workshop, IEC commissioner Ditlhogo Nelson said the youth in the country were starting to take a keen interest in issues of democracy, elections and governance. 'All this made IEC embark on this youth involvement initiative as they will be in decision making positions in future and their capacity building in matters of civic engagement is therefore key to their development,' he said.  He hoped that at the end of the workshop, they would have a group of dedicated youth who will be ready and willing to spread the gospel of the ballot for participatory democracy that is inclusive of all members of the electorate, chiefly the youth.

In his speech, US ambassador to Botswana Michelle Gavin encouraged the youth to be good ambassadors. She said they should reach out to their peers and make sure that they were well informed and ready to participate in the upcoming 2014 general elections. 'The IEC chose you for the youth ambassador programme because you are already strong leaders in your communities. You should take full advantage of your potential to preserve and strengthen the country's extraordinary national legacy for future generations to come,' she said.