By:Hertha Ekandjo and Annakleta Haikera
Divundu and Ndiyona inhabitants in the Kavango East region say the only employment opportunities are from the Chinese and Indian shops in these areas.
According to them, getting a job in an Indian or Chinese shop as a shopkeeper is their only way of survival as the government, they say, has so fare not created any job opportunities for them.
In an interview with The Villager, activist Kandundu Gallesius from the Divundu constituency said they do not have a hospital but only a clinic.
“If you look at the investment in education, the village town does not have any institution that is better off such as institutions like International University of Management or the University of Namibia. We only have Namcol,” he said.
Gallesius said there are no recreational places for the youth and job opportunities are now limited. He said it is only Chinese and Indian shops that are currently offering jobs to the youth in Divundu and Ndiyona.
Divundu, situated along the Okavango River, has a number of well-established four- and five-star lodges that attract many tourists, because of the beautiful scenery and boat rides.
It is also in close proximity to the Bwabwata National Park, which is a few kilometres away. However, residents living near lodges are suffering in terms of making ends meet.
He also stresses that Ndiyona does not have a single ATM to date. “Not even Nampost,” he added.
Gellasius mentioned that another issue that they face in the Divundu is the issue of plot distribution, saying that in order for one to get access to a plot, they have to put up a fight with the village council.
He said when Divundu, a village on the south-eastern banks of the Okavango River, became a settlement in 2002, only a few people got plots and up to date the number of people who have received plots has not changed much since.
“As I am talking to you, we have information that there is a plot application form since 2002 which have never been attended to. People are still waiting to get their plots,” the activist said.
Furthermore, he mentioned that so far, the only people who managed to get plots was through favouritism by those in charge of the village council.
In 2019, the Divundu community demanded for more job opportunities, with residents at that time having been limited to scrambling for low-paying jobs at lodges along the Okavango River or at shebeens and Chinese-owned businesses.
The residents at that time were calling on investors who were willing to set up shops and absorb the high number of youth on the streets, who are eager to work but lack opportunities.
With no shopping mall, one fueling service station and a limited numbers of ATMs, the community relies on Rundu, which is about 200 kilometres away, when residents have to shop or access other services that are unavailable at Divundu.
In response, Mukwe Constituency councillor Damian Maghambayi told The Villager that the youth should stop complaining and come forth and submit their business proposals to the councillor’s office, so that they can be assisted in any way that they want to create job opportunities.
“We have group projects and youth are allowed to apply, to be given such projects. Yes, we don’t have any (SME) parks nor open markets in the area where some youth can come and showcase their talent or business but we’re looking forward to all this,” Maghambayi added.
According to Maghambayi, some youth in the area have potato businesses where they have created employment for other youth in Divundu and this is a steady development in the area.
“I also want to advise those employed in the Indian and Chinese shops to learn from how those businesses operate and start-up with their own retail shops,” Maghambayi noted
Meanwhile, the Mukwe Constituency councillor said his office is looking forward to creating a conducive environment so that they can be able to sell their raw materials for the youth in Divundu and Ndiyona constituency.
“Maybe we are not doing more but we will do more if we all stand together.”
Chinese, Indian Shops The Only Job Opportunities For Youth In Divundu and Ndiyona
