EDITORIAL: Youth vs wrinkles
Youth unemployment hovers near 40%, yet year after year, state resources overwhelmingly favoured the elderly - monthly grants, subsidised services, even free coffins when they depart this world. Meanwhile, the nation’s young, brimming with energy, ideas, and potential, were left scrambling for opportunities that never came.
This week, the launch of the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) sent a clear message: we need a resolution. For the first time in years, government resources are being deliberately steered toward youth empowerment. Just a month into her fledging tenure, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah faced pensioners with candour, explaining that grant increments would be paused this year so that the youth could finally get a fighting chance. That is courage in leadership.
Some grumbled. From Zambezi to //Karas, whispers of discontent floated through communities. But the truth is undeniable: fairness demands balance. When young people are neglected, they often retreat to villages, relying on grandparents who themselves sacrificed to raise educated children. That strain is unfair. It robs both generations of opportunity, and the cycle of dependency grows.
But let’s be honest: NYDF alone cannot fix decades of neglect. Government, communities, the private sector, and families all have a role to play. We must cultivate an environment where ambition is nurtured, creativity is rewarded, and young people are empowered to seize opportunities.
Namibia belongs to all of us - not just those with wrinkles and grey hair. The youth are not the future in theory; they are the present in action. We cannot wait. We cannot postpone. The youth are ready, capable, and waiting. Namibia must rise to meet them. The NYDF is a start - but the nation must be bold, consistent, and unflinching. For the sake of fairness, it is time to put the youth first.
This week, the launch of the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) sent a clear message: we need a resolution. For the first time in years, government resources are being deliberately steered toward youth empowerment. Just a month into her fledging tenure, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah faced pensioners with candour, explaining that grant increments would be paused this year so that the youth could finally get a fighting chance. That is courage in leadership.
Some grumbled. From Zambezi to //Karas, whispers of discontent floated through communities. But the truth is undeniable: fairness demands balance. When young people are neglected, they often retreat to villages, relying on grandparents who themselves sacrificed to raise educated children. That strain is unfair. It robs both generations of opportunity, and the cycle of dependency grows.
But let’s be honest: NYDF alone cannot fix decades of neglect. Government, communities, the private sector, and families all have a role to play. We must cultivate an environment where ambition is nurtured, creativity is rewarded, and young people are empowered to seize opportunities.
Namibia belongs to all of us - not just those with wrinkles and grey hair. The youth are not the future in theory; they are the present in action. We cannot wait. We cannot postpone. The youth are ready, capable, and waiting. Namibia must rise to meet them. The NYDF is a start - but the nation must be bold, consistent, and unflinching. For the sake of fairness, it is time to put the youth first.
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Namibian Sun
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