Swapo MPs call on NA to look into unemployment

Some young people charge that a corrupt recruiting system is being used in both the public and private sectors, because some people with no professional qualifications, not even Grade 12, are being preferred for job opportunities above trained candidates.

Swapo MP Chief Ankama said this when he introduced a motion on Tuesday in the National Assembly that seeks to assess the seriousness of unemployed Namibians with professional qualifications obtained from recognised educational institutions in Namibia or abroad. “This motion aims to consider the general unemployment of all able-bodied Namibians in view of government-sponsored projects, such as the Etunda aquaculture or agricultural colleges,” he said.”We are all witnesses to this humiliating situation of unemployed Namibians without qualifications, and those with qualifications from our national recognised institutions of higher learning, but both are able to do some good work, thereby contributing positively to the growth of the economy of our country,” Ankama said.He said there is a need for the establishment of a centralised research unit, with a decentralised data bank to inform the country on careers in demand, the number of trained cadres in a particular field, the levels of specialised professionals and job opportunities for the unemployed.”This will help facilitate access of data for individual and collective research and planning,” he added.”It will also help individual students, ministries and private entities to do informed planning when advising, funding and prioritising students’ careers in choosing courses at institutions for training or higher learning in order for us to meet our national developmental agenda,” he noted.Ankama further stated that with this system in place, those with no qualifications will be referred to institutions with courses in practical skills, where they can be apprentices while paying in kind.”At the completion of their skillfulness courses, those who want may get into small business enterprising programmes, or be recruited into a range of government-sponsored or private projects,” he added.He said this will bring down the unemployment numbers of both unprofessional and professional human resources roaming the streets of Namibia.Another Swapo MP, Peya Mushelenga rose to support Ankama’s motion.”Children should be prepared at school already.Some people are gifted in academics, while others are good in vocational training,” he said.Mushelenga said it is important to look at professionals roaming the streets, and see which group the majority of them come from.”There is a need to question this,” he added.Nampa”This motion aims to consider the general unemployment of all able-bodied Namibians in view of government-sponsored projects, such as the Etunda aquaculture or agricultural colleges,” he said.”We are all witnesses to this humiliating situation of unemployed Namibians without qualifications, and those with qualifications from our national recognised institutions of higher learning, but both are able to do some good work, thereby contributing positively to the growth of the economy of our country,” Ankama said.He said there is a need for the establishment of a centralised research unit, with a decentralised data bank to inform the country on careers in demand, the number of trained cadres in a particular field, the levels of specialised professionals and job opportunities for the unemployed.”This will help facilitate access of data for individual and collective research and planning,” he added.”It will also help individual students, ministries and private entities to do informed planning when advising, funding and prioritising students’ careers in choosing courses at institutions for training or higher learning in order for us to meet our national developmental agenda,” he noted.Ankama further stated that with this system in place, those with no qualifications will be referred to institutions with courses in practical skills, where they can be apprentices while paying in kind.”At the completion of their skillfulness courses, those who want may get into small business enterprising programmes, or be recruited into a range of government-sponsored or private projects,” he added.He said this will bring down the unemployment numbers of both unprofessional and professional human resources roaming the streets of Namibia.Another Swapo MP, Peya Mushelenga rose to support Ankama’s motion.”Children should be prepared at school already.Some people are gifted in academics, while others are good in vocational training,” he said.Mushelenga said it is important to look at professionals roaming the streets, and see which group the majority of them come from.”There is a need to question this,” he added.Nampa