Youth unemployment has emerged as a major crisis in the Okavango District, with the latest District Development Committee (DDC) report revealing that the rate has climbed past 36 percent.
Okavango District Council (ODC) Chairperson Ronald Gaopalelwe stated that the escalating situation requires urgent, concerted efforts from the local authority, central government departments, and the private sector to create sustainable opportunities for young people.
Speaking during a recent full council session, Gaopalelwe urged the district to forge strategic partnerships with private investors to unlock employment opportunities in high-growth sectors, specifically targeting agriculture, tourism, construction, and renewable energy.
He highlighted that targeted vocational programmes and labour-intensive public works projects are critical to equipping young citizens with practical trades while offering immediate financial relief.
Gaopalelwe noted that since 2023, a total of 107 youth across the district have graduated from the Ikageng Skills Development Programme, gaining technical training in bricklaying and road paving. He emphasized that such initiatives must be scaled up to ensure that skills acquisition translates into long-term livelihoods.
The council chairperson also welcomed the Tawana Land Board’s recent allocation of five ecotourism campsites within the NG12 concession to Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Seronga, Gunotsoga, Eretsha, Beetsha, and Gudigwa.
According to Gaopalelwe, these concessions represent vital economic assets for the five communities if they are developed transparently and managed efficiently. He advised the VDCs to actively pursue joint-venture partnerships with established safari operators to maximize job creation for rural women and youth.
Meanwhile, ODC Leader of the Opposition and nominated councillor Lekonne Masoko echoed these concerns, warning that a youth unemployment rate exceeding 36 percent must serve as a wake-up call for the district leadership to take immediate action.
Masoko called for comprehensive data collection on small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), including informal vendors, arguing that accurate data is essential for authorities to design interventions that address the true bottlenecks faced by local entrepreneurs.
He further challenged the council to aggressively leverage the district’s global environmental footprint to stimulate sustainable economic growth and downstream employment. Masoko pointed directly to the Okavango Delta and the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site as underutilized economic engines that could generate substantial revenue and community jobs if properly commercialized.
Beetsha-Gudigwa Councillor Molatlhegi Moyei also praised the campsite allocations, describing the land transfer as a positive milestone for remote rural communities.
Moyei, however, cautioned that the beneficiary VDCs will require strict administrative guidance from council technicians and legal authorities to ensure they negotiate profitable partnerships and avoid exploitation. He concluded that structured state support is vital if these campsite projects are to contribute meaningfully to rural development and structural poverty reduction.
