Youth unemployment needs immediate and long-term solutions: Kamwanyah

WINDHOEK: Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah has said unemployment amongst the youth in Namibia requires both immediate and long-term solutions from the government. He was responding to President Nangolo Mbumba's comment that the government has the responsibility to address challenges faced by the youth during a meeting with Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) committee members last week. Kamwanyah in an interview with Nampa said the government should invest in education and in vocational training programmes tailored to the needs of the current job market. It should also encourage entrepreneurship through funding, mentorship and business development services, and establish strong partnerships with the private sector. 'Promoting digital literacy and integrating the youth into the digital economy can open up new job opportunities. Infrastructure development and social protection programmes, establishing safety nets like unemployment benefits, housing subsidies and health insurance can provide a buffer for u nemployed youth while they seek job opportunities,' he said. Meanwhile, Mbumba indicated that the government should not ignore the unemployed youth's pleas and should address the challenges they are facing, adding that government should shoulder some of the responsibility. The preliminary results of the 2023 housing and population census showed that Namibia's population has grown to three million, of which 2.1 million are young people, with youth unemployment standing at 43.4 per cent. A local newspaper recently also reported that amid widespread unemployment, many young Namibian women have allegedly turned to selling sexual services on social media platforms to survive. 'They need jobs. Without a job you cannot have shelter, money for transportation, you can't send your children to school… It is difficult, from time to time we are the ones to be blamed because we have the responsibility and it comes with all those challenges,' Mbumba said. Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Deputy Chief-Whip, Maximallian t Katjimune in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday said government must put concerted effort into the creation of mass industries to employ the many unemployed young people and create support for Small and Medium Enterprises. 'We are glad that the government is finally accepting responsibility for the challenges young people face in this country, such as unemployment. There has often been an attitude from the government that it is not the responsibility of the government to create jobs for young people but we have always contended that it is indeed the government that has the inherent responsibility,' he said. Source: The Namibia News Agency