GOBABIS – Young people in the Omaheke region have expressed concern that the lack of proper communication contributes to youth unemployment.

They raised this concern during a public engagement on the motion on youth unemployment, spearheaded by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources and Community Development recently at the Epako community hall in Gobabis.

The youth highlighted that there is no reliable communication channel that informs young people about opportunities, and this contributes immensely to unemployment in the region.

Another issue that came to the fore is the skills gap, as what is being taught in formal education does not consider what the industries need, leaving many skilled young people unemployed.

Jacob Hikuama, a youth activist and farmer, highlighted the need for a vocational training centre to acquire the needed skills and ultimately change the status quo of youth unemployment.

“If you go around the country, you will see vocational training centres. But we do not have them here, in the Omaheke region. We have Farm Du Plessis with a government building, standing idle there. Why can’t the government not use that for a vocational centre instead, because there is nothing currently happening there?” he suggested.

The youth went on to ask for flexible requirements when they apply for loans from banks, especially the Development Bank of Namibia and Agribank.

They likewise want the government to reconsider the requirements for the new promising green hydrogen scholarship programme, which, they say, is targeting only some people, instead of all young people with or without qualifications to be able to study.

The vice chairperson of the standing committee, Elifas Dingara, said he is excited that young people have participated in this consultation, promising that the committee will ensure the report comes out as soon as possible, and that the implementation is fast-tracked.

“What we are basically doing is to get contributions from the Namibian people so that we assist parliament to make informed decisions – to make the law on youth unemployment. The committee will do all it can to ensure the implementation of all these reports is effective and efficient,” he promised. 

- Nampa