Mallex Shipanga
Following the passing of founding president Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, young people have reflected on his legacy.
They shared mixed views on his impact on their lives and the opportunities available to them today.
Hope Muonde (19) said that Sam Nujoma has made an impact on the lives of young people.
Muonde explained that Nujoma’s participation in the liberation struggle has had a lasting impact on young people.
“Let us make sure that every child on the African continent, whether their parents have the money or not, must attend primary and secondary schools, as well as universities, to make sure that we have our engineers, scientists, and experts who will also go to the moon to compete with others,” Nujoma said in 2018.
Muonde felt that Nujoma’s hopes for an educated youth had not come to fruition.
“Namibia does provide free education but never quality education that actually prepares people for working,” Muonde said.
Jayden Knittle (19) and Lenton Losper (20) agreed with Muonde‘s sentiment.
“People may have access to education, but some people do not have the opportunity to make use of that education,” Knittle said.
“I think everyone can get an education, but not really of the same quality,” Losper said.
Knittle and Losper said that Nujoma has not made an impact on the lives of young people.
“Maybe back in the day, he had an impact on young people, but not right now,” Knittle said.
“Since he retired as president, I don’t think he had an impact on us,” Losper said.
“Our youth is urged to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement in sectors such as agriculture, which has the potential to grow the country’s economy, create necessary jobs, and take people out of poverty,” Nujoma said in 2023.
Both Knittle and Losper believed that Nujoma had failed to deliver on her promises to promote economic growth and job creation for young people.
“No, a lot of young people are struggling to get jobs,” Losper said.
“A lot of businesses usually look for people that already have experience. When you are just starting up, you do not have any experience. So job creation for young people is very difficult,” Knittle said.
