Africa-Press – Namibia.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) says there is a need for youth engagement in the national budgeting process, where young voices influence decisions about resource allocation.
Namibian youth recently engaged with policymakers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders at the green-carpet event hosted by Nanso at the Namibian College of Open Learning in Windhoek to dissect the budget process and identify concrete opportunities.
“When we talk about ‘dissecting the national budget’, we are advocating for transparency and youth participation in governance. We are challenging the status quo where complex budget documents must be translated into the language of young people. Knowledge is power, and understanding budget allocations empowers youth to hold leadership accountable and advocate effectively for their priorities,” Nanso spokesperson Jessy Abraham said.
She highlighted that the national budget is too important to be left solely in the hands of economists and politicians.
“It belongs to all citizens, particularly the youth, who will live longest with its consequences,” the youth leader said.
Furthermore, Nanso stands firm in its conviction that when young Namibians understand how public resources are mobilised and allocated, they become active citizens rather than passive observers.
Defying the status quo, Nanso stressed the importance of translating complex budget documents into the language of young people, as understanding budget allocations empowers youth to hold leadership accountable and advocate effectively for their priorities.
Speaking at the same event, information minister Emma Theofelus emphasised that it is very important to understand the budget.
“The national budget determines whether or not the area you’re from will have proper roads, whether or not the schools in your area will have adequate facilities, whether or not there is electricity expansion to the areas you come from, whether or not a borehole will be drilled in this financial year and whether or not after you have passed your grade 12 there is money to fund tertiary education,” she said.
Nanso aims to build a new generation of Namibians who understand the mechanics of national resource allocation and can advocate effectively for investment in youth development.
Meanwhile, Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport Arts and Culture deputy minister Dino Balloti encouraged youth to participate in entrepreneurial activities.
“Entrepreneurship is still taboo– how many of our parents and guardians encourage children to study hard and start a business, as opposed to studying hard and finding a job?” he asked.
Entrepreneur and managing member of the Quartile Group, Kleopas Malima, said there is a need to create meaningful businesses.
“Businesses that are sustainable and speak to the needs of people, because we need to support businesses based on the services offered, and not based on the business owners,” he said.
Founder of Women in Agriculture Organisation Namibia, Helvi Shindume, emphasised that there are a lot of opportunities in agriculture.
“Fortunately, enough, we are young people. We must be proactive and look for these opportunities. Our complaint was always access to land, and now we have the land resettlement programme. If you are a young applicant, you automatically have an advantage,” she said.
Also part of the panel, entrepreneur and creative director Pinehas ‘Zulu Boy’ Shikulo said more money needs to be intentionally allocated to the creative industries in Namibia.
“The platforms are there; let us please make use of them. As the government pushes, we must also push on our end,” he said.
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