By: Annakleta Haikera
Kavango East Region governor, Julius Hambyuka, encouraged beneficiaries of the Namibia Youth Development Fund (NYDF) to make responsible use of their allocated loans and contribute to job creation through their various initiatives.
Hambyuka made these remarks during the announcement of the three beneficiaries by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and Agribank last week.
He reminded the youth that the Fund serves not as a handout, but a partnership between the government, relevant financial institutions, and the beneficiaries, underscoring that the initiative’s success depends on the responsible management of allocated funds.
“This Youth Fund is a seed investment meant to grow businesses and create employment opportunities. Each recipient must ensure that the money is used wisely to benefit not only themselves, but also others,” he indicated.
The beneficiaries are Kleopas Nepolo of Passa K Investment, whose renewable energy project is valued at N$688,800; Julio Manase of Malangahi Investment, a bricklaying venture worth N$168,500; and Ester Kativa of Kwata Mbunge Fish Investment, a fish store valued at N$179,600, bringing the accumulative disbursement of funds to N$1,036,900.
These three were the only applicants selected from a total of 1,375 submissions in Kavango East under the NYDF pilot phase. According to Hambyuka, the success of these projects will serve as a shared achievement and a testament to the vision behind the NYDF.
He assured beneficiaries that the Kavango East regional leadership will closely monitor the progress of their funded projects.
“My office will follow up on the projects in our region, and you will be asked to report on key milestones,” he said.
He added that they are also committed to assisting beneficiaries in overcoming challenges, stating that the Youth Fund is designed to be a living program which evolves with feedback from participants.
“If problems arise, bring them forward. The government has established a youth-led monitoring framework to ensure transparency and accountability as the Fund expands,” he concluded.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah, in a speech dating back to September, said the Fund aims to empower young people to be forward-thinking in their contribution to economic growth.
“The Fund’s capital is intended to empower the youth to initiate, sustain, and expand business ventures across multiple sectors of the economy,” she remarked.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government and financial partners for the opportunity. “This support means a lot to us as young entrepreneurs,” said Ester Kativa.
“Access to funding has always been one of our biggest challenges, and now we have the means to expand our operations, employ more people, and contribute to the local economy. We are committed to using these funds responsibly and making a positive impact in our community,” she expressed.
Meanwhile, Kleopas Nepolo said the initiative has restored hope among many young people in the region.
“The Youth Fund gives us not just financial support, but also confidence that our ideas matter. We plan to work hard, meet our obligations, and ensure that the investment made in us brings value to the country,” he revealed.
“This opportunity has reminded us that youth empowerment is not about handouts; it’s about trust, accountability, and building a future we can all be proud of,” he explained.
The government allocated N$257 million to the Fund for the 2025/26 financial year to support youth entrepreneurship, start-ups, apprenticeships, and graduate internships. About 13,756 applications from aspiring entrepreneurs were processed through the governors’ offices in all 14 regions during the pilot phase, following Cabinet approval in August.
According to reports, all beneficiaries will undergo entrepreneurship training as propulsion for success. Aiming to be inclusive, the financing model also reportedly offers start-ups access to funds ranging from N$60,000 to N$200,000 at 2% interest; growth-phase enterprises between N$200,000 and N$1 million at 3% interest; and expansion enterprises above N$1 million at 4% interest.
