Africa-Press – Namibia. RUNDU – Deputy environment minister Anselm Marungu has challenged youth in Kapako constituency to look beyond traditional river use and embrace innovative tourism ventures to combat local unemployment.
Speaking at the official opening of a youth workshop on tourism livelihood opportunities on Tuesday, Marungu emphasised that relying solely on the Kavango River for fishing and livestock watering is no longer sufficient in a modern economy. He urged young people to transform the region’s natural and cultural assets into sustainable businesses.
“We cannot be in 2026, and the only thing we know our river for is fishing. We need to think smartly and come up with ways our river can benefit us beyond what we get from it now, and we need to do this urgently,” Marungu said.
The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Kapako constituency office and the Namibia Tourism Board, is aimed at bridging the gap between policy and practice. Marungu, while officiating the workshop, stated that while the government provides a regulatory framework, rural youth still face significant barriers, including limited access to finance and mentorship. He described the gathering as a “strategic intervention” to reposition the youth as drivers of the tourism economy rather than mere spectators.
The deputy minister highlighted that Kapako is endowed with unique landscapes, wetlands and a rich cultural heritage – including traditional storytelling, music and crafts – that cannot be replicated elsewhere. He argued that these resources are the keys to unlocking inclusive growth within the framework of community-based natural resource management.
Commending Kapako councillor Augustinus Kupembona for the initiative, Marungu reminded participants that tourism rewards those who are proactive and resilient. He concluded by calling for a shift toward “innovation and professionalism” to ensure that tourism serves as a genuine vehicle for rural development and youth empowerment in the Kavango West region.
Kupembona underscored the urgency of the initiative, noting that it marks a critical step toward transforming one of the region’s most economically challenged areas.
“Our target is the young people, the ones who will take over in the years to come,” Kupembona said, adding that documentation and skills training are top priorities to ensure residents can access government empowerment programmes.
Participants expressed optimism about the shift. “We have often felt like spectators in our own country,” remarked one youth attendee. “This workshop is eye-opening because it shows us that our traditional music, crafts, and storytelling are actually valuable assets that can attract visitors and create jobs for us,” one participant noted.
Marungu concluded by reminding the 200 participants that tourism rewards those who are proactive and resilient, calling for a shift toward “innovation and professionalism” to drive rural development in the Kavango West region. The 4-day workshop ends today. The workshop was held at two villages, on Tuesday and Wednesday at Bunya village, and Thursday and Friday at Kapako.
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