NKURENKURU – Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku says despite the region’s efforts in establishing youth enterprises in eight constituencies, they are still not functional. 

The region is thus appealing to the ministry of youth to fund the projects.

Ausiku made the remarks during her state of the region address (SORA) on Friday. “The projects were aimed at reducing youth unemployment,’’ she noted.

In 2019, the former Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service Erastus Uutoni said during the unveiling of a N$138.5 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) financing strategy that the ministry was well on target towards the realisation of the set goals to establish the 121 rural youth enterprises in all constituencies in the country. 

Unfortunately in Kavango West, not one of the registered youth enterprises has seen any funding or activity.

“The governor’s appeal to have all youth enterprises fully-supported and functional is acknowledged, and a genuine call. Since the establishment of those enterprises, we have run up and down to see them fully-registered and have all business documents in place. But as we speak now, those enterprises have run into arrears since the youth cannot afford to keep up with charges required for the businesses to continue being in good standing,” said the chairperson of the representative council of the National Youth Council and chairperson of the Kavango West Youth Forum, Willem Kotokeni, whom New Era spoke to after the SORA last week.

“Therefore, I would like to join the governor’s call to have all the enterprises fully-funded so that work can start. Once all is in place, it will help us reduce dependence and youth unemployment in the regions. Young people have demonstrated at many times that they are hardworking in nature and ready to contribute to government’s efforts of alleviating unemployment,” he noted.

The youth representative said funding these youth enterprises will transform Kavango West communities which are currently being haunted by poverty and hunger. Before going to print, New Era could not manage to get an insight on how far the youth ministry is with the funding of the said enterprises.