The Freedom March Movement (FMM), a civil society organisation in Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West Region, is demanding that a multipurpose youth resource centre, youth training centres and sports facilities be built in the Kavango West Region.

The chairperson of the movement, Modestus Kupembona, made these demands during a press conference held here on Tuesday, saying the region is the only one that does not have Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service infrastructure.

FMM complained that the ministry, which is mandated to develop and empower all Namibian youth while promoting sports at all levels, only has one sports officer responsible for eight constituencies in the region.

“Lack of sports and youth facilities has resulted in a lack of developmental skills, high youth unemployment, poor participation in sports, high rate of teenage pregnancies and alcohol and drug abuse,” it said.

According to them, the ministry is denying youth in the Kavango West Region opportunities that are available in the 13 other regions.

“We call on the Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero, to visit the region within 14 working days. Failure to do so will result in a mass demonstration,” Kupembona said.

Tjongarero could not be reached for comment as her phone went unanswered.

However, the deputy minister of the ministry, Emma Kantema-Gaomas said the ministry was in Kavango West during the region’s first career fair held on 30 September, where they engaged the youth on these challenges.

“The ministry is aware, hence when I was the executive director in the ministry, we pushed to fence off a piece of land which was donated for the purpose of a multipurpose youth resource centre and sports facility,” she said.

Kantema-Gaomas did not say when the ministry will start developing this land, but the public relations officer Aina Shikesho said the ministry will soon inform the youth in Kavango West about envisaged plans.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency