Opinion – Mandatory youth training to preserve national security

As a young boy, I had little interest in security matters; in fact, I envisioned a future in agriculture. Life, however, took a different turn. When my parents could not afford to send me to university, I joined the Namibian Police Force at 23, with employment guaranteed immediately after training.

That decision shaped my life in ways I could never have anticipated. Over the past fifteen years, I have built my experience in the security field, and I now speak with clarity and conviction: Namibia is not adequately preparing its youth for the realities of the world we are entering.

Recent xenophobia in South Africa, in Kenya, and in Mozambique, where Somali refugees and business owners have frequently faced suspicion and harassment, and the insurgency in Cabo Delgado, are part of a broader pattern. Moreover, in Kenya, the Westgate 2 terrorist attacks, insecurity caused by cyclones and floods in Zimbabwe and Malawi, and modern threats like cybersecurity are also concerns. Conflicts are intensifying worldwide, from geopolitical tensions to internal instability.

It saddens me that most of us still assume peace is permanent. From our experience, we may agree that peace is sustained by preparedness, discipline, and a population equipped to respond to uncertainty. It is undeniable that our country has made commendable progress in governance and development. I am of the opinion that a critical component of national resilience, namely structured and compulsory youth training, should also be considered.The current Namibia Youth Service is a national initiative intended to empower young people with skills, discipline, and a sense of responsibility, yet its voluntary nature and limited reach undermine its potential impact.

From a security perspective, this is a strategic gap. In my considered view, youth service training should not be treated as an optional developmental pathway.

Rather, it should be institutionalised as a national requirement that prepares every young Namibian not only for employment but also for life.

More importantly, the training must go beyond basic skills development and include elements of military orientation, civic education, and disaster preparedness. Moreover, leadership development and foundational policing awareness need to be incorporated to a greater extent.

I refer to the preceding because there are fundamental competencies in a world where threats are no longer predictable or confined to battlefields.

In my professional experience, one of the most persistent vulnerabilities across any society is the lack of preparedness among ordinary citizens. I would argue that, in our setting, whether facing civil unrest, natural disasters, or emerging security threats, the broader Namibian population is not equipped with the knowledge or discipline to respond effectively. I do not see this as a reflection of individual failure, but rather a systemic oversight. We have several critical assets, including Walvis Bay Port, our natural resources, good infrastructure, borders, tourism, and public institutions. These could be easily disrupted or destroyed, threatening the country’s stability and sovereignty.

Most of you would agree that we currently rely solely on formal institutions such as the Namibian Defence Force and the Namibian Police Force to ensure our safety.

While these institutions are established by our laws to play an indispensable role, modern security realities demand a broader, society-wide approach in which every citizen possesses a baseline level of competence and awareness.

With the preceding perspectives in mind, I strongly believe that Namibia should seriously consider introducing mandatory national youth training, particularly for those seeking employment in both the public and private sectors. I do not imply that our society should be militarised, but national security must be at the core.

A structured training system would cultivate discipline, resilience, teamwork, and national identity, while ensuring that all young people are equipped with essential life and security skills. I have learned, among other things, that globally, countries that fail to prepare their populations for crisis often face severe consequences when instability arises.

The question we must confront is simple yet urgent: if a national crisis were to occur tomorrow, how many of our young people would be truly prepared to respond effectively? The answer, if we are honest, is deeply concerning.

Therefore, I ask myself: is there a need for policymakers to re-evaluate the role of youth training within the national development framework to enhance and expand the Namibia Youth Service, ensuring participation is mandatory? The answer is yes. These are not extreme measures; they are practical, forward-looking strategies already implemented in various forms around the world. Ultimately, the future of Namibia will depend not only on its policies and institutions, but also on the readiness of its people.

Time will bear witness.

*Dr Kennedy Mabuku (the fisherman’s son) is a lecturer at Nust and writes in his personal capacity.

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