Thousands of frustrated unemployed young people flocked to Wanaheda Police Station in Windhoek to scramble for 750 cadet posts in the Namibian Police.
By yesterday afternoon, about 2 000 hopefuls were still queuing outside the police station since 09h00 in the morning. Most of them were too angry to speak to The Namibian.
However, some said they had been queuing since the rain showers subsided earlier yesterday.
The police recruitment exercise is the latest rush for jobs in a country where youth unemployment is hovering at about 50%.
Acting Khomas regional police commander Chrispin Mubebo said they started collecting application forms on 3 April until the deadline yesterday.
So far, more than 7 000 application forms were collected in Windhoek, however, this figure does not include yesterday’s applications.
“Unfortunately, our people like [doing things at the] last minute. If people could have come within the period of the 20 working days, the queue could not be as it is as today.
“We released 1 000 posts, 250 applicants from the National Youth Service, and 750 applicants from [from] every Namibian who meets the requirement,” he said.
Mubebo said regardless of how many people are willing to apply, they have no authority to extend the due date.
“The office of the inspector general said the due date is today unless the same office directs us to extend the date, but for now we still have not received anything about whether to extend,” he said.
Mubebo said the application can only be done manually and not online.
In March, the nation was left shell-shocked after 2 000 unemployed youths from Windhoek flocked to a local business to submit their CVs for consideration for 16 advertised positions.
The Temperature Lounge and Restaurant in Windhoek advertised 16 posts, including for waiters, waitresses, chefs, bartenders and cleaners, to add to their current 48 employees.
Later the same month, thousands of job seekers at Walvis Bay gathered in front of the Omualu Fishing company premises, hoping to be considered for jobs at the factory. Factory employees allegedly sent messages to friends and family members informing them that the factory was hiring.
NO CORRUPT ACTIVITIES
Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo last month urged officials responsible for recruiting police cadets to refrain from corrupt activities during the process.
According to New Era, Shikongo said officers who will be accountable for processing the applications for recruitment must ensure they are working in truth and fairness.
“Jobs will be given to all eligible candidates, therefore, every eligible candidate who meets the requirements should apply,” he said at the time.
Prospective cadet constables are required to hold an authentic Grade 12 NSSCO/H or Grade 11 (new curriculum) qualification.
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, must not have a criminal record, must be physically healthy and female candidates must be willing to undergo a pregnancy test.
Labour expert Herbert Jauch said the Namibian youth is desperate to queue up for any possible jobs they might find, because the number of job opportunities is far lower than the number of people looking for jobs.
“For young people, this has been the situation and it is getting worse, because not even if you have completed your tertiary qualifications will you be assured of a job, “ he said.
He further expressed his dissatisfaction that the country has done poorly in terms of job creation.
“We have not achieved as a country the targets that were set in the Namibia National Employment Policy of 2013.
“We have generally failed to create the large number of jobs that are needed to accommodate young people,” Jauch said.
Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu said these unemployment emergencies are now well known and nothing new to the Namibian people.
“We are having a serious unemployment problem and that is nothing new.”
Kakujaha-Matundu said even when the economy was growing, it was growing without employment because of the structure of the economy which relies heavily on extractive industries.
“The government failed to diversify the economy and consider the green schemes, for example, which could have absorbed many of our rural youth who come to towns for the few jobs advertised,” he said.
He said the Namibian government planned poorly from the start.
The latest labour force survey, released in 2018, showed that Namibia’s youth unemployment rate stood at 46,1%, of which men accounted for 43,7% and women for 48,5%.
In 2016, 44% of young people in the country were jobless.
Youth unemployment was estimated at 43% in 2013 and 39% in 2012.
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