Pensioners in Omaruru have called on the politicians who will win the upcoming election to create jobs for their children and increase social grants.

Residents of the Ozondje area in Omaruru have expressed that they cannot survive on their monthly social grants. In Namibia, old age pension grants are the second highest source of income for households, following salaries.

Seventy-three-year-old Klara Mberira is among the 14% of households reliant on these grants and is responsible for nine grandchildren. "I have eight children, and only two are employed. The rest do not have jobs and have children of their own, each with two, three, or four kids from different mothers and fathers, and they are all here," she explained.

Eighty-year-old Adelheid Tjitandi is in a similar predicament. After the deaths of her close relatives, she found herself caring for her nieces, nephews, and biological children. "I have ten children. I sent two of them to Swakopmund to look for jobs, but they didn't find anything. Three are in school, while five are at home because they are jobless."

Another pensioner, Louw, whose son works at one of the few factories in Omaruru, noted the scarcity of jobs. The pensioners also highlighted some development projects in the area. "The factories I know about are a coal factory and a plastic factory. There is also a mine operating at the old silos, but there aren't many shops that can provide work for people, and salaries are very low."

Most, if not all, political parties have promised job creation in their manifestos.