Sundaymail Editor
Dr Africa Makasi
THE fact that Government is the single biggest employer and perhaps presently the biggest investor considering that the economy is depressed due to the Covid-19 pandemic is an uncontested truth.
Many companies in the private sector are finding the going tough, with many facing the inevitable reality of voluntary liquidation.
Indeed, little investment is taking place in this sphere.
Paradoxically, while the Government is making tremendous efforts to secure foreign direct investment and funding for capital projects, several business vultures are adopting a passive stance, patiently waiting to pounce when the right time comes.
They simply wait to submit their dirty bids and earn millions of dollars for themselves and a privileged few who are part of their inner circle.
They receive Government contracts worth millions of dollars only to employ one or two of their relatives.
This sad scenario is real, not imagined.
Sadly, this is against the backdrop of a crippling youth unemployment challenge that the Government is facing.
As a university lecturer, my heart bleeds when I see many graduates still roaming the streets years after they complete their university studies.
Perhaps it is time that we start thinking in other terms.
I want to argue that the remedy for graduate youth unemployment is not far.
The solution I suggest is for the Government to start having a keen interest in the way the millions awarded to bidders are used to create employment.
I call it ‘following your investment’.
Assume the Government comes up with a formula which balances the size of the contract awarded and the corresponding number of youths to be employed.
All what the Government will then need to do is to monitor the implementation of the proposal through targeted employment audits to all the winning bidders.
This will go a long way in addressing the challenge of youth unemployment, most likely within the shortest possible time.
The above formula will, without doubt, guarantee a speedy resolution to the unemployment menace while ensuring that wealth is shared equitably.
I have conveniently christened this formula the 20M/100 formula.
The rationale is that the award of a contract worth US$20 million will call for a corresponding employment of 100 youths.
Employment levels will be adjusted accordingly for future contracts as it is not practical for a company to continue employing more each time a new bid is won.
The present proposal is in sharp contrast to the current situation where a company owned by two people is awarded contracts worth millions without translating this huge investment into addressing unemployment.
Regrettably, what is evident to many is the sight of such individuals flashing their wealth as if to add insult to injury to the struggling unemployed youths.
This fat-cat syndrome is not good and has the potential of causing serious problems for our country.
The harsh reality is that the current system has created islands of wealthy individuals surrounded by a sea of poor youths waiting for an opportunity to be employed for the first time in their lives.
I am acutely aware that despite the sincerity of this proposition, many armchair critics and naysayers are waiting for the opportune moment to call this yet another new version of ‘command employment’.
For me, what matters is the end which rightly justifies the means.
Perhaps this is the time to consider adopting this proposition for the benefit of our youths, the future of our beloved country.
The time is now.
◆ Dr. Makasi is a consultant and senior lecturer at the Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School of Business, Namibia University of Science and Technology. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the author. He can be contacted on [email protected].
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter