Venaani urges early recall of Parliament as youth job crisis deepens
Elizabeth KheibesWINDHOEK
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has called for urgent political intervention to address Namibia’s worsening youth unemployment crisis, warning that continued parliamentary inactivity is compounding a growing social and economic emergency.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Venaani said rising youth unemployment represents “one of the most serious threats to our country’s social cohesion, economic growth and future development”, arguing that young people are being systematically excluded from meaningful economic participation.
Citing official data, Venaani noted that youth unemployment stood at 44.4% in 2023, according to a parliamentary report, with the projected rate to reach 45% by 2025. When combined with the potential labour force, he said youth unemployment is expected to climb to 61.4%, leaving a majority of young Namibians economically marginalised.
“Youth unemployment is not an abstract statistic,” Venaani said. “It is a daily crisis affecting thousands of capable, educated and willing young people who are being denied the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our nation.”
He said the PDM has long advocated decisive action, recalling that in 2021 party a MP tabled a motion calling for youth unemployment to be declared a national emergency. Venaani urged government to follow South Africa’s example by formally recognising the crisis and adopting extraordinary intervention measures.
He argued that such a declaration must be accompanied by concrete steps, including the immediate establishment of a dedicated parliamentary committee focused exclusively on youth unemployment. According to Venaani, the committee should coordinate across ministries, engage the private sector, align education and skills development with labour market needs, and implement programmes that generate “real jobs for young Namibians”.
Turning to Parliament’s performance, Venaani criticised lawmakers for failing to act with urgency. He referenced public remarks by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has expressed concern about the lack of new legislation emerging from Parliament.
“The president herself has complained about Parliament not bringing forward new laws,” Venaani said, adding that the head of state has constitutional authority to recall the National Assembly. He called on the president to exercise those powers and recall Parliament ahead of its scheduled 3 February reopening.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has called for urgent political intervention to address Namibia’s worsening youth unemployment crisis, warning that continued parliamentary inactivity is compounding a growing social and economic emergency.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Venaani said rising youth unemployment represents “one of the most serious threats to our country’s social cohesion, economic growth and future development”, arguing that young people are being systematically excluded from meaningful economic participation.
Citing official data, Venaani noted that youth unemployment stood at 44.4% in 2023, according to a parliamentary report, with the projected rate to reach 45% by 2025. When combined with the potential labour force, he said youth unemployment is expected to climb to 61.4%, leaving a majority of young Namibians economically marginalised.
“Youth unemployment is not an abstract statistic,” Venaani said. “It is a daily crisis affecting thousands of capable, educated and willing young people who are being denied the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our nation.”
He said the PDM has long advocated decisive action, recalling that in 2021 party a MP tabled a motion calling for youth unemployment to be declared a national emergency. Venaani urged government to follow South Africa’s example by formally recognising the crisis and adopting extraordinary intervention measures.
He argued that such a declaration must be accompanied by concrete steps, including the immediate establishment of a dedicated parliamentary committee focused exclusively on youth unemployment. According to Venaani, the committee should coordinate across ministries, engage the private sector, align education and skills development with labour market needs, and implement programmes that generate “real jobs for young Namibians”.
Turning to Parliament’s performance, Venaani criticised lawmakers for failing to act with urgency. He referenced public remarks by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has expressed concern about the lack of new legislation emerging from Parliament.
“The president herself has complained about Parliament not bringing forward new laws,” Venaani said, adding that the head of state has constitutional authority to recall the National Assembly. He called on the president to exercise those powers and recall Parliament ahead of its scheduled 3 February reopening.
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