The Ministry of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation has launched the Youth Employment Tax Incentive and National Internship.

The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has allocated N$126 million to the programme.

Through this, the government is set to create 5,071 jobs.

Launching the programme, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii Murangu, reiterated that the government will work with speed and determination to implement the project to address the plight of young people.

"The government is committed to employment creation on a national basis, through which we will witness not only the youth but also all productive citizens become active participants in the Namibian labour market. Skill development needs to be part of a comprehensive education and economic development strategy that entails close collaboration between the public, private, and education sectors, inclusive of skills regulations, internal capacity-building programmes, reskilling, upskilling, and curriculum aligned to the national development agenda."

The objective of the project is to reduce youth unemployment in the country.

"It is important that you choose your areas of internship that are aligned with your field of study, but you should also know that when we are in our country and we are going, you should be able to transfer your skills across different fields."

The Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, Nangula Uaandja, urged the private sector to designate jobs.

Uaandja also added that, with 49% of the unemployment rate among youth, this could discourage the young ones too. 

"How do we support them because they have done their part , they are qualified, they have spent many years, and now they are one of them to say Why should I go to university if graduates are also sitting at home? So the young ones then ask, Why should I go to school?