Enough is enough: Youth feel neglected

Kenya Kambowe



It appears that many Namibian youth are not satisfied with the manner in which the country has been governed over the past 30 years.

They continue to demand better service delivery, while adopting a radical and aggressive approach in order for their cries to be heard.

Over the past 30 years, Namibian children grew up with the expectation that once they obtain a tertiary qualification, employment will be guaranteed and that owning a house and car would be as easy as withdrawing money from an ATM.

The youth are now crying foul, claiming that government has failed to uplift the lives of many, who remain subjected to high levels of poverty, unemployment and landlessness.

With a deteriorating healthcare system, an agriculture sector that perpetuates the importing of basic produce and foreign nationals flooding the economy, amid a lack of jobs for locals, Namibian youth say they feel neglected.

Although applauding the strides made by government, some argue that Namibia should not have been where it is today, because the country is rich in natural resources than can help improve the lives of the hopeless.

Junias Shilunga, a young activist employed as a nurse at a local clinic in the Kunene Region, commended the efforts of those who sacrificed their youth and lives during the long and bitter liberation struggle

Shilunga however said that apart from celebrating the lives of those heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives, government has failed in many ways.

“As a young person, I do appreciate and thank our liberational heroes who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods for us to get an independent Namibia. However, it’s quite disheartening to see how young people are suffering in an independent Namibia,” Shilunga said.

“The unemployment rate in our country is extremely high and young people are hopeless, and it seems like their dreams are shattered by the government of the day. How do you explain a situation where a country has more agricultural graduates and vast agricultural land but still imports tomatoes from South Africa, while our graduates are sitting home with their qualifications and knowledge?”

Shilunga said further that the country’s healthcare system is on its knees and those responsible to transform it seem not to care. “Can you imagine, the government has not built any referral hospital since independence. As a patriotic citizen I have to celebrate the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have taken it upon themselves to liberate our country, even when it was not fashionable to do so.

“There is nothing much to celebrate, apart from the bravery and steadfastness of those who have died for this country,” Shilunga added.

Godfrey Shivolo described the three decades of independence as an illusion, arguing that it is unacceptable for Namibia to be faced with a youth unemployment rate of 46%.

“To many youth in Namibia, independence means nothing but an illusion. This is no surprise in a system that for three decades has continued to marginalise the next generation in Namibia,” Shivolo argued.

“A huge number of graduates are now sitting with their qualifications when they instead were supposed to be propelling the already crippled economy. ‘Till death do us part’ is how the elders are clinging onto political positions and making sure that the youth’s attempt to participate substantively in mainstream governance remains a feeble dream till this very day.”

Shivolo said these atrocities against the youth have led to young people becoming more radical, which is perceived as a threat by those in power.

“Well this is the truth, but any suggestion that the elders are walking their talk couldn’t be further from the truth. These speeches are made in an effort to plant false hope, faith and optimism in the youth. Because of all these the youthful giant has now awakened with radicalism and those who are entrusted with law and order are now threatening to deal with it,” Shivolo said.

Prominent lawyer Silas-Kishi Shakumu argued differently, saying government should not be perceived as an employment creator.

Shakumu said government’s mandate is to create a conducive environment which should result in young people being innovative and subsequently employing others.

He said once youth are made to understand that they should be self-reliant in terms of thinking about what market they want to provide goods or services for, instead of expecting government to employ them, the economy will improve.

“The youth must be taught that the purpose of government is not to create employment. The purpose of government is to create a conducive environment.

“Government is there to ensure that there are laws in place, that there is a rule of law, that there is a constitution that guarantees and protects the citizens of the country.

“If the youth can learn that government is not there to create employment, they will start taking the initiative,” Shakumu argued.

He however said government has failed in the sense that young people are not exposed to assistance such as funding.

He said despite there being financial institutions such as the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), those funds are not readily accessible to youth.

Shakumu requested that government introduces platforms where young people can secure funding easily for them to start viable businesses that will grow the economy.