Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

PDM wants 30% tenders reserved for youth

Home National PDM wants 30% tenders reserved for youth

WINDHOEK- Parliamentarian and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani, says his party, when it takes over government, will enact a law that will reserve 30 percent of all government procurements for youth and women.

He said this law would have a mandatory clause for every government procurement to set aside 30 percent for youth and women. Venaani made his promise in Parliament while contributing to the 2019/20 National Budget last week. He said the biggest challenge currently in Namibia is youth unemployment, which he said stands at 46 percent.

According to a recent report on the Namibia Labour Force Survey released by Namibia Statistic Agency (NSA) based on its study between September and October, youth unemployment rate (for 15 years to 34 years) for 2018, jumped to 46.1 percent from 43.4 percent recorded in 2016. 

The unemployment rate in the age range of 19 to 34 years stands at a record 44.8 percent.
Venaani said without tangible plans to create jobs, the effects of youth unemployment would persist for decades.
“Many who begin their careers without work are more likely to have lower wages and suffer joblessness again later in life,” said the vocal opposition leader.

He said part of the losses might be due to missing out on training and experience accumulation that typically occurs with young workers.

“The PDM alternative government will address the mismatch between skills and jobs by creating apprenticeship with companies in Namibia,” he said.

According to him, Namibia needs to invest in those who were not able to succeed in mainstream education – unforgotten trades. Opportunities need to be opened for domestic workers, tellers in shops, security guards, gardeners, taxi drivers, hawkers and those who are at home. Significant resources must go towards retooling and training them to pursue and excel in new trades that offer better paying prospects.

He said companies will only be willing to invest more in the country’s youth and revamp their training programmes if government links every procurement with skills development for the youth.

Furthermore, Venaani said one of the biggest failures, as a nation, has been the country’s inability to provide quality education and skills development to the youth.
He said this is despite the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture being the recipient of the largest chunk of the budget year in, year out.

“The system currently leaves our young not only unemployed but at many instances unemployable,” stated the PDM leader.
“The qua vadis of our development trajectory lies herein and we must address this challenge with a sense of honesty and urgency,” he added.