Unemployment leads to crime and drug abuse among youth – police chief Shikongo

Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo says more than 53 000 young Namibians have applied for 2 000 police posts in the current recruitment process.

Shikongo said this at the opening of the ‘Boys to Men’ seminar in Windhoek on Saturday.

He said the high number of applications reflects limited opportunities for young people, many of whom are vulnerable to crime, substance abuse and other social ills.

“In the current recruitment process, we have received about 53 000 applications for 2 000 positions,” he said.

Shikongo said similar trends were recorded in previous recruitment cycles, with tens of thousands of applicants competing for far fewer posts.

The police have received more than 40 000 applications for about 1 000 positions in one intake, and about 46 000 applications for 1 700 posts in another, he said.

Shikongo said although the police recruit every year, demand continues to outweigh the number of available positions.

The police chief warned that the situation is contributing to wider social problems, including growing youth involvement in crime, violence and drug abuse.

He said law enforcement authorities are increasingly dealing with young offenders, many of whom face long-term consequences after incurring criminal records at an early age.

“At your age, you are 17 or 18, you pick up a criminal record, where do you go?” he asked.

Shikongo cautioned that criminal records could permanently limit access to employment and other future opportunities.

He mentioned the rising number of young people in police custody as an indication of deeper structural challenges, including unemployment and a lack of guidance.

The police chief called for a coordinated response between the government, communities and families to address the root causes of youth vulnerability, stressing the need for stronger support systems.

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