Oshikoto: As Namibia heads to the polls for the regional councils and local authorities elections, young voters in the Oshikoto Region have issued an appeal to the incoming leadership to prioritise the creation of stable, permanent employment and decisively resolve the region's long-standing water crisis.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Selma Andreas, a 30-year-old resident of Onankali South in the Onyaanya Constituency, expressed frustration after casting her ballot on Wednesday. "We are weary of idleness. Young people have the right to dignified, permanent employment that secures our future rather than temporary contracts that offer no stability," she said.

Tangeni Johannes, 26 years old and from the same constituency, echoed these sentiments, emphasising that temporary jobs fail to meet basic livelihood needs. "High youth unemployment remains one of the most debilitating challenges facing our region. A permanent job would, for once, provide genuine hope and economic independence," he noted.

Beyond employment, Johannes underscored the urgency of addressing acute water scarcity. Numerous villages continue to grapple with inadequate access to potable water, with high salinity rendering existing sources unfit for human consumption. Residents have pleaded with the next administration to accord top priority to infrastructure that delivers reliable, clean water to underserved rural communities.

With their ballots now cast, Oshikoto's youth have sent a strong message that meaningful progress hinges on transforming their livelihoods into sustainable careers and ensuring that the fundamental human right to water is no longer an issue.