Top cop warns unemployment could trigger civil unrest

The Namibian Police’s deputy inspector general of operations, Elias Mutota, has warned that the ongoing unemployment crisis in the country, if not urgently and effectively addressed, could ignite civil unrest.

He said this yesterday while addressing the parliamentary standing committee on economics and public administration during a public hearing in Windhoek, where he discussed the hurdles the police face in controlling the proliferation of informal traders in the nation.

“The next uprising in this country will be caused by youth unemployment. Namibians are not that violent and they don’t go to that extent, but one day,” Mutota said.

He said the police have the responsibility of upholding the laws and regulations entrusted to them.

Mutota implored lawmakers to consider amendments to existing legislation, taking into account the unique challenges the informal market poses.

“Law enforcement has the job to enforce law by any means possible. When uprisings happen, we have to enforce the law, and sometimes this is viewed as discrimination,” he said.

Mutota’s warning echoes president Hage Geingob’s statement during the state of the nation address in March, in which he expressed concerns that desperate, jobless young people may resort to ‘extremism’ in their struggle for survival.

“If the youth are all going to rise up it will be a crisis, and they can get guns. Terrorism, that’s what I am talking about. They could be recruited and be misled by other forces . . . and since they are frustrated, they can join them,” he said.

According to the latest data available, Namibia grapples with an overall unemployment rate of 34%, with youth unemployment amounting to a staggering 48%.

About 50% of young people living in Windhoek alone are without jobs, according to the Khomas Regional Council.

On Independence Day this year unemployed young people, driven by frustration and desperation, took to the streets in protest against joblessness.

The protests resulted in the arrests of prominent activists Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, including Popular Democratic Movement member of parliament Inna Hengari.

INFORMAL JOBS THREATENED

According to the latest Labour Force Survey, more than half (57%) of the 725 742 employed people in the country are active in the informal sector.

However, the informal sector continues to face numerous challenges, with many operations being shut down.

The City of Windhoek is currently busy clamping down on street vending in various public spaces across the city, with the City Police’s by-law unit patrolling all areas to identify illegal vendors and to remove them.

Those who are found selling merchandise at undesignated areas (open markets) will be fined a fee of up to N$2 000, on top of getting their goods confiscated by the police.

“It’s essential for street vendors to be aware of the local regulations, obtain the necessary permits or licences, and operate within the designated areas to avoid potential conflict with law enforcement,” Windhoek municipality spokesperson Harold Akwenye has said before.

Sualtjie Coetzee (24) is part of a group of street vendors of which the merchandise was confiscated and operations shut down by the City Police in August at the premises of the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

“We were keeping our hands busy. What must we do now? Must we rob, must we steal?” she asked.

Tom Forbes (32) in the same month said he has capitalised on the steady flow of students in the area.

However, the police have forced him to dismantle his set-up he said then.

“Now that we are not keeping ourselves busy, we are forced to do those funny things, like robbing people. We are hungry,” Forbes said.

Addressing the parliamentary public hearing yesterday, Charity Mwiya of the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed deep concern over the criminalisation of the informal sector.

Mwiya highlighted that local authority-level legislation is hindering entrepreneurship development in the country.

“For entrepreneurship to flourish in various localities, the first legal instrument to accept the informal economy should be the local authorities and regional councils acts,” she said.

Mwiya said labour regulations and social protection mechanisms for the informal sector are underdeveloped and will challenge the transition process.

“We should also consider that our informal workers may resist formalisation due to concerns over increased taxes and regulations, making it harder to implement the recommendations,” she said.

The parliamentary standing committee on economics and public administration is currently reviewing and consulting on a 2022 motion tabled by Swapo parliamentarian Agnes Kafula, which calls for the social protection of the informal economy.

“The informal economy sector is a means of survival for many fellow Namibians,” she said.