How to improve youth empowerment

FAIR JUSTICE WRITES:

Dear Mr. President,

As His Excellency is aware, Namibia is known to have a predominantly youthful population. This thus give serious incentive to the issue of addressing youth empowerment, so as to avoid a possible national catastrophe.

I am inclined to argue that continued side-lining of this important sector of the Namibian community could catapult this country into possible chaos. Yes, the Namibian government has attempted to address youth disillusionment, by creating the Ministry of Youth.

However, since its inception, the mentioned Ministry has been historically seriously underfunded, thus bringing into question government’s commitment to addressing youth empowerment. It is a fact that the needs of the youth as it relate to empowerment is diverse.

Already, the current Ministry has delved into the mandates of other Ministries, in its quest to address youth empowerment. For example, the MSYNS is providing vocational training through Berg Aukas and others, which should be the mandate of the Ministry of Higher Education.

Similarly, through its Credit Scheme programme the MSYNS is attempting to assist the youth to venture into the world of business, which is better served by resorting under the Ministry of Trade. One can continue to mention the Green Scheme which is the mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture or the Planned Parenthood Programme which should resort under the Ministry of Health.

For the MSYNS to venture into the above mentioned fields is an indictment of the existing ministries to adequately address youth matters.

Notwithstanding, this involvement has not translated into youth empowerment, thus necessitating a paradigm shift, for Namibia to avert possible disaster. Thus Your Excellency, humbly accept my postulation that youth empowerment matters will be better served if each and every Ministry, create a youth department.

Additionally, this will also position youth empowerment matters to have a greater chance of an increased budget, while simultaneously ceasing role duplication.

Since the dawn of Independence the youth has been acknowledged as the backbone of Namibia, yet in practice efforts directed towards youth empowerment remain underfunded. To underscore the importance of youth empowerment, the Minister of Youth can then resort within your office, or alternatively the Office of the Prime Minister, given the latter’s role as the leader of government business.

Sport is a very important component that is heavily under-funded. To make matters worse, it has to share the meagre budget it receives with Youth.

Thus, Your Excellency, allow the Ministry of Sport and Recreation to be a standalone Ministry so as to adequately endeavour to position the undoubted talent of Namibians to assume their rightful roles in world sport.

I so submit and thank you, Mr. President.