Youth unemployment not adequately addressed – MPs

Some members of parliament (MPs) have criticised the recently tabled 2026/27 budget for failing to address issues like unemployment.

The budget allocates about N$81.3 billion to the operational budget, with only approximately N$6.5 billion earmarked for development expenditure.

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) parliamentarian Michael Mwashindange on Tuesday said the distribution undermines the country’s ability to stimulate the economy and create employment opportunities, particularly for the youth.

“Despite rhetoric, the budget before us failed to set out a credible plan to meaningfully reduce unemployment among our youth.

While there may be allocations for job creation initiatives in some sectors, the overall fiscal framework reflects a prioritisation of recurring operational expenditure, recycling the only available jobs over strategic investments that should generate new jobs,” said Mwashindange.

He said development spending is severely constrained, reducing the scope for job-creating infrastructure, projects and capital investments that could stimulate broad-based employment.

Mwashindange argued that debt payments continue to crowd out productive investments, with interest costs now exceeding N$14 billion and Namibia’s total debt surpassing N$175 billion – more than 65% of the country’s gross domestic product.

He warned that this is a clear sign the fiscal strategy is failing to prioritise spending and lacks prudence.

The budget’s structure is skewed towards maintenance costs and lower capital outlays, and cannot generate the rapid expansion of productive capacity required to reduce unemployment substantively, he added.

“Growth that does not translate into jobs is growth without impact. The IPC cannot support a fiscal plan that fails to confront unemployment and stimulate economic growth,” he said.

Swapo’s youngest MP, Fenny Tutjavi, says development must be sustained to meet the needs for roads, schools, clinics, earth dams and boreholes, ensuring human dignity for all Namibians.

“There remains an imperative need to ensure that the rural electrification programme and informal settlement upgrading proceed more quickly to meet the country’s housing needs,” she says.

Tutjavi calls on corporate responsibility to be extended to tackle youth unemployment, emphasising that young people must be hired in large numbers – not just as interns, but fully absorbed into the workforce.

She wants to see the budget addressing the cost of living amid inflation on key goods such as sugar, oil, maize meal, mahangu and the removal of tax on sanitary pads, as they are essential commodities for human livelihood, which she says should not be used for state revenue collection.

Regarding the National Youth Development Fund, Tutjavi says a full report must be submitted covering its activities since inception, and that stringent measures acting as barriers for young people must be removed to allow easier access.

Swapo parliamentarian Ephraim Nekongo says the budget protects essential needs, productivity, investment, advanced youth empowerment and physical discipline, while striking a balance between ambition and affordability.

Meanwhile, IPC member Nelson Kalangula says the mantra of ‘business unusual’ is not reflected in the budget, with an indication of a rise in debt and backward steps.

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