The new Minister of Sports and Arts Jacob Kelebeng has emphasised the need for government to increase investment in sport and arts to help quickly diversify the economy.
Kelebeng made his plea when delivering the statement on Botswana’s Senior Men National Football Team qualification for AFCON 2025 finals in parliament this week. Kelebeng has said if adequately resourced the sport and arts sector can be self-sustaining, create jobs and products that can be consumed even by international markets.
He urged for talent identification and nurturing to be conducted in a systematic manner that allows for graduation of athletes, performers, artists and associated officials from amateur to professional level. Kelebeng has stressed that it is imperative that government invests in systems that support sport development from early age as it is the international best practice.
‘‘The sport and creative sector can brand and profile Botswana much quicker and more effectively than other fund consuming and traditional ways of promoting Botswana as an attractive destination for investment and tourism,’’ he said.
He further stated that appropriate purpose-built infrastructure that meets international standards is necessary as a catalyst for the development of the sport and creative sector. According to him, this infrastructure will support the envisaged district, national, regional and international youth, arts, sport, cultural and music competitions that will enable the youth to acquire technical and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge for sustenance and economic growth.
‘‘The sport persons and arts practitioners should be incentivized and rewarded to attract the necessary talent and motivate those who perform well to aim even higher,’’ he said.
the incentive and rewards package approved by Cabinet in 2022 will be reviewed to address gaps that have been identified, and make it more comprehensive by including the arts while paying attention to issues of affordability. Kelebeng has pleaded with parliament to support the initiative and assist in galvanizing the private sector and Batswana in general to support the sport and creative sector financially, technically and otherwise.
He highlighted that based on the current incentive and rewards package for national teams and athletes, each Zebra’s player will receive Pl0, 000.00 for qualifying for AFCON 2025, and additional P4, 000.00 as appearance fee and reward for the draw against Egypt, totalling to P14 000.00 each.
