‘Unemployment forces us to steal’ Khorixas youth cry foul over jobs
Frustration over unemployment is boiling over in Khorixas, where residents say locals are being sidelined for jobs while families increasingly rely on elderly relatives’ pension grants just to survive.
For many young people in the town in the Kunene Region, finding work has become nearly impossible, forcing some to leave for bigger towns while others remain trapped in poverty.
A 36-year-old local resident (male) who asked not to be named, said the lack of jobs has pushed many households to the brink.
“We literally have no jobs here,” he said. “Our family of six survives from my grandmother’s old-age grant.” He said the situation is common in many homes in the town.
Furthermore, desperation has even led some residents to crime, he added. “Sometimes it forces us young people to steal just to eat. Not because we want money or expensive things, but just so we can buy bread.”
Additionally, Etna Yolanda #Haeses, a 32-year-old mother of two, says local residents are repeatedly overlooked for employment opportunities even when businesses open in their own community.
“Khorixas arguably has one of the highest unemployment rates,” she said. “People from outside the town are the ones getting jobs here. We apply at shops like Shoprite and Choppies almost every day.”
According to #Haeses, some job seekers have even been told directly that locals are not preferred for employment.
“The hiring managers here in Khorixas are telling us that locals drink and smoke too much and that they cannot hire people like that,” she alleged. She added that a look at the staff working at newly opened shops suggests that most employees come from outside the town.
“It’s true. If you look at these newly opened stores, most of the workers are not from Khorixas,” she said.
Khorixas youth further claimed that they still have not received the 600 dollar unemployment grant that was introduced a few years ago. They said they had applied but most of the people didn't. “We applied for it almost 3 years ago,but nothing and the worst thing is we received no updates or follow up from officials, " the 24 year old local resident added.
The crisis mirrors a wider national problem. According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, youth unemployment in Namibia remains among the highest in the region, leaving many young people in smaller towns like Khorixas with few opportunities outside government jobs or retail work.
Youth community activist Clamans Miyanicwe described unemployment in the town as a “burning issue” that is pushing young people into hopelessness.
According to Miyanicwe, some young residents leave the town for opportunities in larger centres such as coastal towns or the capital, but not all journeys end well.
“Some go out looking for greener pastures and return in a coffin,” he said. “Until when should our town be known as a place that welcomes coffins back?”
He called on the Khorixas Town Council to create an environment that attracts investment and job opportunities.
“Development is not a one-way street. Local leadership must make the investment environment friendly so that businesses can invest here and create opportunities for the youth,” he said.
Miyanicwe also questioned why major retailers in the town are not employing more locals.
“If locals cannot be employed in shops like Shoprite and Choppies in Khorixas, where exactly will they be employed?” he asked. The activist warned that growing frustration among unemployed youth could eventually lead to renewed protests similar to demonstrations that took place in the town several years ago.
“Khorixas is not on a secluded island,” he said. “We are Namibians too, and we need opportunities.”
Khorixas town council was contacted for a comment but had not responded to questions raised by the publication at the time.
