By Stefanus Nashama
A political storm is brewing over the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF), with SWAPO Party and opposition councillors trading barbs on the fairness and transparency of the fund’s first round of allocations. The N$500 million fund, launched earlier this year attracted over 11,000 applications nationwide but approved only 42 projects, sparking widespread frustration among unsuccessful applicants and their representatives.
Under the scheme, startups can receive between N$60,000 and N$200,000 at two percent interest, growth-phase enterprises between N$200,000 and N$1 million at three percent, and expansion enterprises above N$1 million at four percent.
The initiative is being implemented through the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Agribank, and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF), with NamPost expected to join later.
SWAPO councillors defend
SWAPO’s Uukwiyuushona constituency councillor, Andreas Amundjindi, defended the fund, saying the process was “free and fair”.
“We did not turn away any applications. We forwarded all submissions to the relevant office for vetting and selection,” Amundjindi told Confidente.
He praised the government for what he called a “progressive and innovative initiative”, urging unsuccessful youth not to lose hope.
“My advice to the youth is to register their small businesses because unregistered applications are often disqualified,” he said.
Amundjindi added that the successful applicants will create jobs for other youth and that those who did not make it in the first round may make it in the next.
Moses //Garoëb constituency councillor, Stefanus Ndengu, also from SWAPO, echoed the same sentiment. “The programme is a good start to empower our youth. Yes, the number of successful applications looks small, but it shows that something tangible has happened,” Ndengu said. He added that many young people lacked adequate preparation time but would perform better in the next round.
Ndengu encouraged the youth not to be discouraged by the outcome, saying persistence is key. “There is a saying that what is meant for you will come your way. If you did not make it in the first round, that does not mean you will not succeed in the next one.” He urged young people to start preparing early for the next round of applications to improve their chances of success.
Opposition cries foul
However, opposition councillors have dismissed the fund’s rollout as politically motivated and exclusionary. Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) councillor for Katutura Central, Rodman Katjaimo, accused the ruling party of using the programme as an election campaign tool. “That process was done through the office of the governor. If so, why was it not coordinated through regional council?” Katjaimo asked.
“I believe it was just a SWAPO pilot project ahead of the elections.” He also questioned how the selection panel managed to process over 11,000 applications in such a short time, describing the exercise as lacking inclusivity. “If government truly wanted all youth to benefit, it should have first trained and equipped them, provided land, and assisted with company registration,” he added.
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor for Sibbinda constituency, Mickey Lukaezi, also expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in the fund’s rollout, saying he does not know who benefited in his area.
Lukaezi, who also serves in the National Council, criticised the implementation process, describing it as “unfair, discriminatory, and a waste of time and resources.” “There was no correspondence or consultation with us at the constituency level,” Lukaezi said.
“We, as grassroots representatives, were completely sidelined and cannot even identify the beneficiaries,” he added.
Lukaezi urged the government to enact the Constituency Development Fund Bill, arguing that real empowerment should start at the local level. “We already have development projects at the constituency level, why is the government not supporting those instead?”
He stated that whatever the government is trying do will continue to fail if it ignores input from the people who know what is happening on the ground. Meanwhile, some SWAPO councillors declined to comment, saying they merely served as collection points for applications and had no involvement in the selection process. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare recently announced that youth businesses financed under the newly launched fund will be granted a 12-month grace period before loan repayments begin.
