Political Analyst says Prime Minister’s youth job plan misses the mark — urges structural reform

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Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanya has criticised Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare’s strategy to fight youth unemployment by placing young people in the police, military, and correctional services. Kamwanya says these are service institutions, not employment solutions, and the plan is largely symbolic, failing to address deeper economic issues.

Kamwanya pointed out the mismatch: “If I’m studying engineering or education… does that mean I must go and join the police, correctional service, or defence force?” He warned that this mismatch could leave graduates frustrated and underutilised in roles irrelevant to their qualifications.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s 2023 Labour Force Survey, the country’s official unemployment rate has increased from 33.4% in 2018 to 36.9% in 2023. Of the 1.88 million Namibians of working age, only 867,247 are considered part of the labour force. Within that group, 546,805 people are employed while 320,442 remain unemployed, resulting in a 36.9% unemployment figure. The employment-to-population ratio stands at just 29.1%, indicating that fewer than one in three working-age individuals hold a job.

Youth unemployment, affecting those aged 15 to 34, has seen only a slight decline, from 46.1% in 2018 to 44.4% in 2023. However, broader measures paint an even grimmer picture. When including discouraged job seekers and those not actively looking for work, the so-called broad unemployment rate rises to 54.8% overall, and a staggering 61.4% among youth. Furthermore, 41.9% of Namibia’s youth fall into the NEET category—Not in Education, Employment, or Training—indicating a large number of young people are completely disengaged from formal economic activity.

Pointing to the figures, Kamwanya recommends structural economic reforms over symbolic placements. He proposes sector-specific job creation, incentives for hiring in fields like engineering and teaching, and public–private partnerships to match employment opportunities with graduate skills.

Namibia’s unemployment crisis—36.9% official, 54.8% broad, 44.4% youth, 61.4% youth broad—is deep-rooted. Relying on security institutions to absorb youth isn’t enough. Kamwanya urges government leaders to commit to long-term policies and diverse job creation that tap into young people’s true potential.