David Ndakwenonghwe
Namibia is one of the youngest populations in Africa with 2.5 million people and vast economic resources, ranging from diamonds and livestock to fish.
Ranked fifth in the world in terms of producing uranium, and ranked first in the top-10 peaceful countries in Africa, Namibia finds itself in the dilemma of inequality, self-enrichment, corruption, high unemployment and poverty.
Over the years, the government and the private sector have made a significant contribution to education, resulting in the top three universities and many others in the country, producing a great number of highly educated individuals. The purpose, as it is in any other territory, is for the graduates and every other person to uphold the country’s economy, take up roles in private and public services, create establishments and businesses, and be involved in agriculture, science and technology.
These are all fundamental aspects to enable a country to be self-reliant and strongly contribute to the world economy.
With all these mentioned, it is saddening to realise that today, the country faces a staggeringly high rate of youth unemployment at more than 50%.
The majority of people you will find hanging around in bars and shebeens are young educated Namibians. Today, the youth are labelled lazy and not innovative, and they spend most of their time-consuming alcohol and betting in sports betting outlets that are scattered all over the country.
Is this true because the youth is not innovative, and they are just waiting on the government to provide jobs for them? Or maybe, did the youth take this path by choice?
Without reasonable doubt, no Namibian youth chooses to be in these predicaments.
Many of them have tried to uplift their lives and economic standards, creating sources of income and employment for themselves and for those that they can afford.
A number of them have become successful, but the majority are suffering, and this is because of a lack of support – most importantly from the government.
Yes, it is partially correct to say “government is not God; create your jobs”.
But remember, Namibia has a population of 2.5 million, which is about half the population of Johannesburg, which alone has a population of 5.6 million people.
In this prospect, Namibia is a community in one town of advantaged minority, impoverished majority and where the rest suffers.
With these facts, our government and its functioning bodies, purposed to trigger economic development, should stop playing the victim and collectively contribute to the future of every Namibian youth.
The youth want to be self-reliant; they want to be involved in agriculture and various other sectors, but they are not receiving sufficient support.
Applying for an agricultural loan from Agribank can take up to a year or more to receive a response, and that is if one even receives a response.
The unequal distribution of land or no means to gain land for purposes of production is another problem on its own that needs to be resolved.
All these contributing factors result in young people losing hope and resorting to other unproductive means such as alcohol.
The 2022 National Budget has a certain percentage focusing on youth development; it is an approach in a good direction.
But, if we are looking into a future of an economically self-reliant Namibia, then opportunities should be granted to the youth on merit and equal basis without favouritism or nepotism.
In as much as the youth need to search for these opportunities, the relevant authorities should make them available for everyone.
We have the necessary intellectual capacity and human resources to achieve great things for our country and eliminate this gap of unemployment; we just need to truly move together in one direction with one common goal in mind.
* David Ndakwenonghwe is a postgraduate student in Higher Education at IUM, from where he also obtained an honors degree in Business Information System.