By Gerson Sindano
In the absence of adequate job opportunities and affordable tertiary training institutions in Namibia, many young people look manifestly crestfallen and hopeless.
But today I want to tell you my fellow youths that Namibia is a land of copious economic opportunities. All we have to do now is to avail ourselves and grab these opportunities with both hands. This is our moment, this is our time and this is our generation.
We need to politically and economically demand what is due to us. We can do this by showing the will to learn skills necessary to develop our country in the future.
Excessive drinking of alcohol, violence and abuse of women and children are not an answer to our struggle for job opportunities. We need to redouble our efforts and work tirelessly to participate in different economic activities such as free enterprise.
The time has come for the youths to step up to the plate of responsibility and be counted in their country. This country needs dedicated, ambitious and goal-oriented young people. Namibia needs future leaders who are prudent and who will be able to negotiate better deals for the country. The youth must grab this moment; the youth must be the catalyst for economic development and social change.
Namibia does not need egotistical youths but rather needs vibrant and forward looking young people with the determination to one day run this country into economic prosperity.
Our forefathers have already laid the political and economic foundation for us to thrive on. They have paid dearly with their lives to free us from the yoke of colonialism and apartheid.
It is our duty and responsibility now to ensure that the laid foundation does not crack in situ. For any nation to develop and get itself out of the misery of poverty, young people must be educated and trained in practical skills necessary for the development of the country.
We are all talented and have the capacity to do practical work with great dexterity.
All we have to do now is to speak to our leaders and demand service delivery in our villages, towns and regions. We need to demand services that would create a conducive environment for us to use our talents effectively. My bones shuddered to the core when I read a report in the media that money meant for development in different regions is being returned to the Treasury because apparently some local authorities had dismally failed to implement developmental projects. Young people should hold their leaders accountable for failing to implement government infrastructural projects meant to expedite economic development.
If the failure for projects implementation continues, then heads must roll.
Many of our young people cannot access start-up funds from the banks because they do not have sufficient collateral that the banks always demand.
However, despite lack of project implementations by some local authorities, young people should not give up hope. We are the future, and only we can decide our destiny.
We should not give up now; we should keep our heads high and hope for better days ahead. We have plenty of agricultural land in the northern part of Namibia enough for crop production during a good rainy season.
Young people must take initiatives to go into crop farming and other productive activities rather than wasting time drinking alcohol. For comment, contact me at gersindano@gmail.com
• Gerson Sindano is a final year Master of Arts in English student in the Department of Language and Literature Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Namibia (Unam).