Swapo, PDM youth say unemployment is ticking time bomb

Young members of both Swapo and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) have voiced their deep concerns over Namibia’s soaring unemployment rate. Their reactions follow last week’s announcement by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) that unemployment now stands at 37%, while independent analysts estimate the figure to be as high as 55%.PDM parliamentarian Maximillian Katjimune has described the growing youth unemployment crisis as a "ticking time bomb" and criticized the government’s failure to address the plight of thousands of job-seeking Namibians.NSA data indicates that Namibia’s unemployment rate increased by 3.5% over five years, from 2018 to 2023.“The statistics released by the NSA regarding youth unemployment confirm our long-held view that this crisis is a national emergency,” Katjimune said. “It also confirms our position that the government is clueless on how to tackle this existential issue head-on, lacking both the political will and the technical capacity to address it.”SPYL speaks outThe Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has also expressed deep concern over the escalating unemployment crisis.“SPYL has noted with great concern the 3.5% increase in unemployment in the country, as highlighted in the 2023 Census Labour Force Report by the NSA,” SPYL secretary for information Moses Shikerete stated.“We are particularly alarmed by the rising youth unemployment rate, which now stands at 61.4%. The report underscores the pressing need for employment creation, especially for our young people.”Shikerete acknowledged Namibia’s population growth, which has surged to three million since the last census in 2011, as an indicator of the urgent need for proactive job creation measures.Covid-19, global recession blamedShikerete pointed to the Covid-19 pandemic as a key factor in worsening youth unemployment, though he emphasized that the economy is now in a recovery phase.“The devastating impact of Covid-19 forced countless businesses to close, leading to widespread job losses that disproportionately affected young people,” he explained. “Additionally, ongoing global economic challenges—including armed conflicts, high inflation, and economic recessions—have further hindered our efforts to stimulate consistent economic growth and job creation.”Despite these challenges, Shikerete reaffirmed Swapo’s commitment to addressing unemployment through its 2025–2030 manifesto.“The Swapo Party and its government remain steadfast in their commitment to fully implement the 2025–2030 Swapo Party Elections Manifesto, which prioritizes radical and intentional strategies to generate employment for our youth, who have been severely impacted by economic hardships,” he said.“Our young people are the backbone of our nation’s future, and it is our responsibility to ensure they have access to meaningful job opportunities.”As the debate over rising unemployment continues, youth from both political parties are demanding urgent and effective solutions to address what many see as one of Namibia’s most pressing social and economic crises. - kenya@nmh-hub.com.na

Swapo, PDM youth say unemployment is ticking time bomb

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Swapo, PDM youth say unemployment is ticking time bomb

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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