Department of Cooperatives of the Ministry of Small Businesses and Cooperatives, participated in the annual youth cooperatives conference of the three countries of Botswana, Lesotho and eSwatini (BOLESWA) that was held in Botswana.

The Commissioner of Cooperatives Mrs ‘Maphamoli Lekoetje, said youth cooperatives in Lesotho started in 2003, while other cooperatives were first registered in 1984.

She said currently in Lesotho they have 54 youth cooperatives, seven of which are found in schools.

Lekoetje said at the conference they were awarded Prince BOLESWA crown, won by their male beauty pageant Tlotliso Moahloli.

This year’s theme for the conference was; “Youth Cooperatives for decent work and the power to grow”.

Mrs Lekoetje said with this theme, they wanted to show young people that with cooperatives, they can create decent well paying jobs that offer decent job positions, and that are in line with recommendation 193 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

She said the conference was also focused on helping young people in their cooperatives to grow, using the skills they acquired in their tertiary education.