Placido Hilukilua
NAMIBIANS commemorated International Workers Day on Monday against the backdrop of reports of young people resorting to criminality and prostitution using lack of employment as an excuse. The issue of young women flocking to Oshakati’s Okandjengedi Bridge as sex workers has dominated recent news headlines and continues to be a hot topic on social media platforms, where it is argued that youth unemployment is the reason young women become “sex workers.” Even armed robbers and burglars are “excused” as victims of youth unemployment instead of what they really are: greedy and dangerous criminals.
Informante got in touch with several self-employed youths to hear their views. They are unanimous in dismissing the notion of prostitution and criminality being “products” of youth unemployment.
“Those are bad choices that people make. However, they are not the only options available to those of us who are unemployed,” said 35-year-old Maria Haufiku.
Originally from Onelombo village in the Omusati Region, Haufiku migrated to Oshakati some years ago where she was initially employed as a security guard. “It was only a temporary job that did not last long,” she said.
Last year she started selling sweets. “I started with two packs of sweets and slowly introduced other items such as biscuits, polonies, and droewors [dry sausage],” she said.
She continued: “I am not making a fortune, but I do take home more than what I earned as a security guard.”
An ordinary security guard earns between N$1,500 and N$3,000 per month.
She admitted that vendors face serious challenges, including “abusive customers” and friends and relatives who utter discouraging statements. They can also easily fall prey to criminals, as what happened to her earlier this year. She was on her way to buy stock when she was attacked and robbed of N$800.
Notwithstanding the challenges, she is of the opinion that it is a much better and honest way of making a living than becoming a criminal or sex worker.
Her sentiments were echoed by other self-employed youths. Medusalem, who is originally from Okambebe, said that being a thief or a robber is a choice and so is sex work. “Unemployment is real, but there are options that are better than becoming a thief or a prostitute,” he said.
Medusalem buys meat from slaughters and cuts it into pieces of N$20 each. He sells the raw meat and grills it to a customer’s specification.
Foibe, a single mother originally from the Olange village in the Omusati Region, who sells homemade caramel sweets, said that unemployment should not be used as an excuse for committing crime or for becoming a sex worker. “Those who want to become sex workers should say so openly. It is not about unemployment. It is about wanting money, quickly. But there are decent ways of making a living. Even N$200 is enough to start doing something,” she said.
MEAT AND SWEETS: Medusalem, who sells and grills meat, and Foibe, with the homemade caramel sweets. Self-employed Maria Haufiku. Photo/Video: Placido Hilukilwa
