600,000 Namibians estimated to live in poverty: UN official

Namibia still faces a number of challenges as 27 percent of its population, some 600,000 people are living in poverty, according to a UN official.

UN resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Kiki Gbeho, said this Monday at an event to mark the International Day for Eradication of Poverty in Groot Aub, 40 km outside the Windhoek.

Gbeho said poverty levels are still high in Namibia, despite the many achievements in the country, which include gender parity, press freedom and the HIV infection reduction.

Currently, the unemployment rate in Namibia stands at 28.1 percent, with the majority of that number being youth.

Earlier this year, President Hage Geingob launched war on poverty, and challenged the nation to ensure that by 2020 poverty will be eradicated. Endit