Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says unemployed graduates with master’s and PhD qualifications are now forced to apply for jobs in the police force, correctional service, and defence force.
Swartbooi made these remarks on Tuesday during a press conference, where he addressed what he called poor decisions by the current administration over the past few months.
He criticised prime minister Elijah Ngurare for saying the government is addressing youth unemployment by recruiting young people for law enforcement agencies.
A few weeks ago, Ngurare announced that 4,310 young people were being recruited across all 14 regions for the Namibian Defence Force, the Namibian Police Force, and the Namibian Correctional Service.
Ngurare had said the recruitment is part of government efforts to curb youth unemployment.
He said the Namibian Correctional Service has welcomed 278 recruits so far, with another 450 expected to begin in August.
The Namibian Defence Force currently has 1,800 recruits in training, while 1,782 new members joined the Namibian Police Force in May.
Swartbooi expressed frustration, saying university graduates are being reduced to mere police officers, writing affidavits and certifying copies, or prison wardens guarding people who stole goats and chickens.
“90 days have gone by, where are the 250,000 jobs they promised to create? We don’t even see any sign. Then they go and announce 4,700 jobs in the public sector. Now, an engineer must apply to become a police officer and start writing police statements at the police station because there are no opportunities for graduates like doctors, teachers, economists and so on. They only think employment in the public sector is sustainable job creation. Where is the prime minister, and what consultation has he done?” said Swartbooi.
He accused the new government of making promises of change but failing to show progress.
“Is it business unusual when the president decides she is not going to look into corruption matters that were there before her time. Forgetting government continuity, or what does it mean by business unusual? 4000 public sector jobs for soldiers. People with master’s degrees and PhDs must now guard prisoners. Prisoners who have stolen chickens, goats and cattle. A person at a master’s level, you have mastered the field of economics and are now reduced to guarding cattle thieves. And you call it sustainable, satisfactory and decent employment,” he said.
