By: Kalipi Lao-Latate
As Namibia ushers in a new administration, hopes are high, but so is the frustration among the thousands of unemployed graduates who find themselves in an endless cycle of joblessness.
Namibia’s Constitution, under Article 95(g), obligates the government to actively promote policies that ensure employment for its people. However, this constitutional aspiration has remained just that—an aspiration, a mere suggestion rather than an enforceable duty.
And so, the educated youth of this country continue to be abandoned, left to navigate an economy that offers them little to no opportunities despite years of academic sacrifice.
The bitter reality is that the government has failed to draft and implement the necessary policies to combat the scourge of unemployment.
Year after year, universities and colleges produce thousands of graduates, only for them to be met with an economy that has no space for them. The promise of education as the key to success has become an illusion, as qualifications gather dust while hunger, frustration, and despair set in.
The incoming administration, led by President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, must recognise that it is inheriting youth unemployment as not just a statistic but a national crisis.
This crisis is exacerbated by the glaring absence of tangible interventions from the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Higher Education, and the Office of the Prime Minister. Namibia has seen billions of dollars allocated to various sectors, yet targeted employment strategies remain vague and ineffective.
It is my interpretation that Article 95 of the Constitution, including its clause on employment, serves as a guiding principle rather than an enforceable law. However, what is the point of enshrining ideals in our supreme law if those in power continuously neglect them?
It is unacceptable that a government that prides itself on being people-centered has left so many of its young people disillusioned and hopeless. The failure to address youth unemployment is not just an economic problem; it is a breach of trust and a betrayal of an entire generation.
At a time when Namibia is witnessing significant oil and gas discoveries, one would expect aggressive employment-driven policies to be in place. Instead, foreign corporations are positioning themselves for profit while local graduates remain excluded from major industrial opportunities.
The new administration must ensure that Namibia’s wealth benefits Namibians first and foremost. Investing in skills development, local job creation, and youth entrepreneurship is no longer an option—it is an urgent necessity.
The Office of the Prime Minister, under Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s tenure, has repeatedly pledged to address unemployment, yet no meaningful impact has been felt.
Similarly, the Ministry of Higher Education continues to push out graduates without ensuring a matching job market exists for them. This disconnect between policy and reality has left thousands of young people questioning whether their government is truly committed to their future.
To the new administration: This is your moment to rewrite the narrative. Will you, too, let the youth of this country drown in poverty and hopelessness? Or will you take decisive action, not just for political rhetoric, but for real and lasting change?
The youth are not merely asking for jobs—they are demanding accountability, action, and a government that respects the very Constitution it swore to uphold. The time for empty promises is over. The time for change is now.
This opinion piece is authored by Kalipi Lao-Latate, an unemployed youth. The views expressed herein are his own.
