Hardap: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has urged leaders in the Hardap Region to accelerate youth economic empowerment by ensuring that every constituency identifies practical business opportunities that can create jobs and stimulate local economic growth. Addressing regional and local leaders during a courtesy visit to the Hardap governor's office on Friday, Ngurare said development should move beyond political promises to tangible interventions that directly benefit communities.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Ngurare called on councillors, the Hardap Regional Council, and other stakeholders to guide young people in accessing the N$500 million National Youth Development Fund, which provides collateral-free financing for entrepreneurs aged 45 years and younger. He emphasized the importance of identifying businesses that reflect each constituency's comparative advantages and assisting prospective entrepreneurs in developing business plans and applying for funding. The process should be implemented without delay, as the government has removed collateral requirements to make financing more accessible to young people.
The prime minister also announced that Agribank has agreed to establish a N$20 million fund dedicated to supporting youth in agriculture, in addition to the National Youth Development Fund. "I urge you as leaders to ensure that young people are informed about the available funding opportunities and receive the mentorship needed to establish sustainable businesses," he said.
Ngurare stressed that political independence should translate into economic independence, with communities reaping tangible benefits from government programmes through deliberate interventions that promote local production and enterprise development. He added that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed every region to establish an agro-processing or manufacturing facility to add value to local resources and create employment opportunities.
According to Ngurare, agro-processing initiatives are already underway in the Zambezi and Omaheke regions, and he encouraged Hardap leaders to identify similar projects that can leverage the region's natural resources, particularly its water potential. He called for greater unity among leaders, emphasizing that national development requires cooperation and a shared commitment to improving the lives of Namibians. "Let us bury whatever differences we have and put national interest above all else," he said, urging leaders to begin implementing the proposed interventions immediately.