The Botswana National Sports Council received, with excitement, the news of the establishment of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. To this end, the Council wishes to thank His Excellency the President Rre Festus Gontebanye Mogae for taking heed of our pleas made over a period of time, echoed by the youth and culture constituencies and the nation at large. By this development, we see a clear demonstration on the part of His Excellency of his Government’s commitment to the development of sport in this country, and a holistic development of the nation through the various instruments at its disposal.
This positive development should no doubt open discussions on several other issues of national importance, top of which will be issues of funding in the proper context, to mirror the ever-increasing demands of a vibrant sports development environment; especially for a nation that has so patiently waited for its turn to be counted as a successful sporting nation. The recent results achieved by the various athletes, clubs and teams representing the nation at international competitions are a testimony of what Batswana are capable of; easily attesting to the success potential that is just awaiting to be tapped.
As one of its first assignments, the Ministry should facilitate the conclusion of the revision of the BNSC Act, a process that lately has been visibly on motion. In the longer term, the Ministry should seriously consider a reorganization of sport administration structures in the country, in line with international trends. The Council also looks to the new Ministry to accelerate the ongoing process of facilities development throughout the country, especially dictated by demand. Other matters needing immediate attention are the establishment of the Schools of Excellence, direct funding of national teams by the state and human resource development to ensure that the Ministry and other sports structures are appropriately resourced with qualified personnel.