The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters’ (NEFF) economic commissar, Michael Amushelelo, said the upcoming demonstration against unemployment scheduled for 21 March 2023 is because the unemployed youth ‘do not want to celebrate a mockery of an independence’.

Amushelelo during a press conference here in the capital on Thursday added: “Unfortunately we cannot go celebrate unemployment, poverty, corruption and incompetence. Therefore we call on patriotic Namibians to boycott the Independence Day celebration and stand in solidarity with their fellow Namibians in order for us to hold our government accountable.”

The latest labour force survey, which was released in 2018, showed that Namibia’s youth unemployment rate stood at 46.1 per cent, of which men accounted for 43.7 per cent and women for 48.5 per cent.

Amushelelo said the inception of the protest came when 2 000 unemployed youth on Friday flocked to a lounge and restaurant located in Khomasdal to submit their curricula vitae (CVs) to be considered for 16 advertised positions.

He said this clearly sends a message that the unemployment situation in Namibia is a serious crisis and should be handled as such.

He further called upon every single Namibian to come and participate in the national protest.

“This protest is not only for NEFF but is for every single Namibian and I want to make it clear that regardless of which political party you belong to, unemployment does not discriminate,” he said.

In particular, Amushelelo called on the demonstrating youth to bring along their CVs, which will be handed in at the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation (MLIREC).

Amushelelo said the protest in Windhoek is scheduled to start at the Katutura youth centre at 07h00 and then the protestors will go to four institutions, namely State House of Namibia, Parliament, Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare and MLIREC.

Amushelelo said the petition to be handed over will outline to the government how jobs must be created and he said the government can use it as a blueprint to create jobs for Namibians.

The NEFF economic commissar said letters were already written to the concerned government agencies where the petitions will be delivered, adding he requested the agencies to avail people to come and receive their petitions.

“Failure to do so will result in us returning the following day and demanding the receival of the petitions,” he stated.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency