Police Pounce on NYS trainees

Government’s noble efforts to turn around the ailing fortunes of the country’s youth through the National Youth Service appears to be hitting a brick wall, as the programme continues to attract negative publicity.

In one of the numerous scuffles to hit the programme, over a 100 National Youth Service (NYS) trainees at a Rietfontein farm outside Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region were detained for several hours by Namibian Police last Thursday.

Namibian Sun is reliably informed that the trainees attempted to hold a peaceful demonstration on the day their Commissioner, Onesmus Uupindi, paid a visit to the farm.
The demonstrators planned to raise issues on why they were not being integrated into the line Ministries, such as Defence and Safety and Security. They also bemoaned the lack of proper skills training at the centre.

Uupindi reportedly took offence by the planned demonstration, refusing to listen to the plight of the youth before hastily leaving the centre.

“We were surprised to see the armed convoy of the Police cars arriving at the centre without knowing who had invited them and what they had come for as we were not demonstrating,” one of the trainees told Namibian Sun.

“We are also very disappointed with the reaction of our Commissioner and the way he reacted to us when we wanted to present our concerns about NYS regarding the empty promises they made when we joined.”

The trainees also noted that the NYS was deceiving the nation by claiming that they provide jobs, skills development and empowerment of the youth through training, but instead have been putting the youth out in the street without certificates or any rewards.

“For how long are we going to be in the NYS? We feel it is worthless and a waste of time being in the NYS for almost five years - just for a certificate,” the youth claimed.
The Police only let the trainees go after some serious warnings.

Illegal demonstration

Although Uupindi confirmed the incident, he denied that he refused to talk to the trainees. “In the first place, that demonstration was an illegal thing to do. I gave them an opportunity to talk to me, but was puzzled by their behaviour. Part of those who demonstrated are liberation kids taken into the NYS programme. The Police were dispatched to the centre to maintain peace.” The Commissioner refuted allegations that the NYS is failing the trainees by not awarding them proper qualifications.

“We have not denied the trainees graduation, but the NYS is following a set curriculum. They all have to do civic, voluntary and skills training for three years. NYS does not promise employment but based on their performances and training received, prospective employees will handpick those who meet their requirements,” Uupindi said.

click to enlarge NOT HAPPY: National Youth Service (NYS) members march in a mini-parade during the offi cial inauguration of the NYS Headquarters in Windhoek © NAMPA