The latest Afrobarometer survey has revealed that young Batswana are nearly as pessimistic as their elders about the country’s direction. The survey found that 71% of young Batswana believe Botswana is headed in “the wrong direction,” compared to 73%-75% among citizens over age 35.
Young Batswana are more critical of job performance assessments than their senior counterparts. While they are largely negative about the country’s economic conditions, they are slightly more optimistic than their elders. Only 21% of young respondents believe economic conditions improved over the previous year, compared to just 12% of older cohorts. Additionally, 44% of youth expect things to get “better” or “much better” in the next 12 months, compared to 38%-40% of older respondents.
The survey identified unemployment as the most pressing issue for young Batswana, with 57% citing it as the government’s most important problem to address. Other significant concerns include crime and security (21%), corruption (18%), management of the economy (14%), and health (10%). Young citizens are more likely to prioritize unemployment and corruption over health, poverty, and water supply compared to their elders. The findings also highlight a disconnect between youth and civic and political processes, suggesting there is room for increased youth engagement. “The flipside is that if they value youth participation, government and stakeholders should facilitate opportunities for youth representation in policy- and decision-making processes,” the survey notes. Regarding government performance, only 14% of youth believe the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” on job creation. About one-third think the government is effective in fighting corruption (33%) and managing the economy (35%), while around 40% approve of the government’s efforts in improving living standards of the poor, reducing crime (41%), and maintaining roads and bridges (44%). Young Batswana are more positive about the government’s performance in improving basic health services (51%) and providing water and sanitation services (58%).
Elected leaders receive low performance ratings from young citizens. Only 31% of youth “approve” or “strongly approve” of their local government councillor, while about 25% are satisfied with their member of Parliament and President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
In terms of personal living conditions, young Batswana offer grim assessments, though less so than their elders. Only 15% of youth describe their living conditions as “fairly good” or “very good,” while 63% rate them as “fairly bad” or “very bad.” Among older respondents, more than eight in 10 see their living conditions as bad.
The survey also highlights differences in asset ownership. Nine in 10 young Batswana own a mobile phone, similar to the middle age range (93%). However, youth are more likely to own a bank account (54% vs. 36%-48%) and a computer (25% vs. 10%-14%). They trail their elders in owning a radio (57% vs. 67%-71%), television (46% vs. 52%-56%), and motor vehicle (17% vs. 33%-34%).
Young people in Botswana are less likely than older generations to identify with a political party, with fewer than half (45%) of young respondents feeling close to a party, compared to 61% of middle-aged and 65% of senior groups. Young Batswana also participate less in political and civic activities, being less likely to contact a local government councillor, traditional leader, member of Parliament, or political party representative. They are also less likely to attend community meetings or join others to raise an issue, although they match older groups in participating in protest marches or demonstrations (5%).
