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Ongenga councillor vows to address youth unemployment
Ongenga councillor vows to address youth unemployment

Ongenga councillor vows to address youth unemployment

The Ongenga constituency has thus far registered 169 unemployed youths on a new database, and this number is expected to increase.
Cindy Van Wyk
TUYEIMO HAIDULA







OSHAKATI

Ongenga constituency councillor in the Ohangwena Region, Matthew Shikongo, has promised to start a database to find solutions for the unemployed youth in his constituency.

He said unemployment remains a serious concern in Namibia, especially among youth, hence the need for people to pull together and meet government in addressing the challenges facing the youth. A huge number of unemployed youth is a ticking time bomb for any country, and Namibia is no exception, he said.

Shikongo added that his office has come up with a plan to collect data on unemployed youth for a better information-dissemination strategy.

He said the constituency has thus far registered 169 unemployed youths, and the number is expected to increase as they engage more young residents.

“Once we have full database of unemployed youth, we will be able to easily know how to address the situation and how to direct them best,” Shikongo said.

He, however, expressed disappointment over some youths who feel it is the councillor who has to go to them instead of them coming to the constituency office.

Shikongo urged unemployed youth to reach out to his office and to make sure they get their names registered in the pursuit of finding employment.

“They expect the councillor to go to their residencies and pick them up whenever there are job opportunities. And when assigned jobs, they refuse to travel long distances,” he said.

Create jobs

Moreover, as part of creating employment, Shikongo indicated that plans are underway to engage investors who can create jobs and contribute to the development of the constituency.

He shared the same sentiments as President Hage Geingob, who recently told unemployed Namibians to create jobs for themselves.

Shikongo said skilled and semi-skilled youth should use their know-how to create employment opportunities for themselves and for others instead of waiting on government to provide jobs for them.

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-20

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