Africa-Press – Namibia. Rudolf Gaiseb
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has poured cold water on the notion that the country’s security cluster serves as the dumping ground for the unemployed youth.
Responding to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian Inna Hengari last Thursday in Parliament, who questioned when the government will shift to alternative absorption zones rather than the default security clusters, Ngurare insisted that labelling it as such dishonours the services and sacrifices of the hard-working men and women in uniform.
“They secure our sovereignty, uphold law and order, and respond to national emergencies,” he said.
The matter was once addressed by retired Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah early this year.
New Era reported that he echoed the same sentiments, stating that the force is a respected profession that trains professionals to defend the nation’s sovereignty.
Last week, the premier pinpointed that, like any other occupational entry, entry into the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), Namibian Correctional Services (NCS), and Namibian Police (Nampol) is neither automatic nor unmerited.
Before any recruitment, personnel undergo rigorous and competitive training. This results in the production of some of the brightest young professionals said the Prime Minister.
On the other hand, Ngurare highlighted that the government is prioritising the expansion of youth-centric employment through critical economic enablers such as renewable energy, ICT, creative industries, agriculture, and logistics.
“In alignment, NDP6 introduces a ‘whole – of – economy skills deployment strategy’ that focuses on smart placement, digital job matching and targeted sector alignment of graduate skills with market demand,” he noted.
In addition, the government affirmed changing trajectory from consumption-heavy job creation towards sectors creating more jobs and contributing immensely to the economy, including green hydrogen and renewable energy, agro – industrial processing, digital services, and the creative economy.
Hengari asserted that the public sector may be politically expedient, with recruitment not being merit-based and not aligned with skills, and that it may be used to mask the absolute scale of youth unemployment.
However, Ngurare declared, “We do not and will not use public sector recruitment as a political tool, nor do we employ people to artificially reduce unemployment figures,” he said, adding such assertions undermine the professionalism and dignity of thousands of public servants who have earned their positions through merit.
“The Public Service Act guides recruitment into the public service,” he stated, and “reinforced by competency frameworks, position-specific requirements, and Public Service Commission oversight.”
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
