Unemployed graduates to demonstrate Friday

WINDHOEK, 18 JUL – Unemployed graduates in Windhoek are planning a demonstration from the Wernhil Park bus stop to the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday.
Tuna Shikongo, one of the organisers said during a media briefing here on Tuesday the demonstration is aimed at demanding clarity on their situation from those they have voted into power.
The demonstration is scheduled to start at 08h00 and they plan to hand over a petition to Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
“We have decided that if education is the greatest equaliser, we shall use the education we received to seek the keys to the locks and seek economic freedom for ourselves and our families so they can reap the harvest of the seeds that are planted,” Shikongo said.
She further accused high-ranked government officials and the politically well-connected of “looting funds meant to create jobs which has translated into the current estimated figure of more than 67 000 unemployed graduates that the government does not know how to handle”.
She added that as per 2016 statistics from the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, 16,8 per cent of graduates with university degrees were unemployed, along with about 0,8 per cent with masters or doctorate degrees.
“How do we motivate our younger generation to study and attain qualifications if there are no jobs?” she asked.
Asked what they will do if the demonstration does not go as planned, a hopeful Johannes Kondjeleni said they will go to State House if the demonstration does not produce the required results.
He further said most of them are qualified in accounting, management, human resources, criminal law, biochemistry, nursing and education.
Kondjeleni said the demonstration was initially planned for 29 June, but was called off after the representatives of the graduates met officials from the Office of the Prime Minister.
He told Nampa a list of about 1 200 names was submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister as requested.
“In this meeting they promised to respond to us in two weeks which they have not done to date and our only option is to demonstrate and demand clarity,” he said.
He promised that the demonstration will be peaceful.
Khomas Regional Commander of the Namibian Police Force, Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa confirmed receipt of the request for the demonstration by the group on Tuesday.
(NAMPA)