The implications of youth unemployment for national security in Namibia in the 21st century: The case of Khomas region
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Date
2018
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Youth unemployment is one of the major problems facing Namibia. Unemployment
is not only unique to Namibia, but a problem experienced in most countries in the
world, whereby many unemployed youths are actively looking for gainful
employment, but there is none. Namibia, a developing country is witnessing a high
rate of youth unemployment which has potential to degenerate into one of the major
threats to its national security. The purpose of the study was to examine the main
reasons and causes of youth unemployment in Namibia, its implications and
consequences for national security due to frustration and aggression based on
negative experiences of the unemployed youths. The study adopted a mixed method research (MMR) design. Theoretical evidence indicates that MMR was observed to provide a better strategy that enabled other researchers to have a more complete understanding of the research phenomena being investigated, while at the same time exploring research objectives through explanations of quantitative results with qualitative follow-up data collection and analysis process. The findings indicated that some of the main reasons for youth unemployment are low growth of the economy in which the supply cannot meet the demand, as well as the education and work experience factors. It is due to some of these factors, many school dropouts as well as graduates are unable to secure a job in Namibia.
Government programmes and policies aimed at job creation have failed to yield
results. Findings indicate that government interventions meant to alleviate the masses out of poverty have been poorly implemented or re-directed to benefit the few elites and the well connected at the expense of the masses. For these reasons, the masses of unemployed youths are slowly becoming agitated and running out of patience. Furthermore, findings indicated that majority of unemployed youths are frustrated with the recruitment processes in both government and private sector, citing corrupt practices and nepotism. The study argues that for the youths to become useful assets, they must be gainfully employed. The Government in partnership with private sector need to do more in dealing with corruption, nepotism as well the implementation of policy to succeed. Available data indicates that 43.4% ofNamibian youth were unemployed by 2017, and the figures are increasing every year. Both educated and uneducated youths experience the same challenges in securing gainful employment. Perceptions and experiences of unemployed youth indicate lack of trust and negative familiarity in the political system and in governance, which most youth indicate that they are not considered by the current political system and are running out of patience. The government only regards the plight of the Children of the Liberation Struggle (CLS) at the expense of all youths in the country. The study concludes that youth unemployment is a potential danger to national security that warrants all stakeholders' contribution.
Description
A research thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Security and Strategic Studies