Rudolf Gaiseb
Winds of change are blowing across the Namibian political landscape as young people dominate most parliamentary lists after different political parties held their electoral colleges this year.
In essence, it means more young people could potentially represent their parties in the National Assembly (NA) for the next five years, and possibly beyond.
In interviews with New Era, some analysts weighed in on the influx of a large number of young people onto the political scene, and what it means for the country’s transformative democratic politics.
Researcher at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and analyst Graham Hopwood said indications that the NA will be dominated by younger members of parliament (MPs) are positive in the sense that generational change is taking place.
“However, the PR party list system (party-list proportional representation) means these MPs will primarily be loyal to their parties rather than constituents. Parties are also hierarchical, and the young MPs can be controlled and limited in what they say by the old guard that remains. There is also concern that inexperienced MPs will take time to acclimatise to their parliamentary responsibilities. This could leave a leadership gap, but it depends on the quality of MPs being elected,” he stated.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah outlined the frustration of young people in the country, stating that they yearn for change.
It is his view that a predominantly young NA has the potential to create change for the masses, but it depends mainly on the calibre of young people on the party lists.
Should their political parties win and they enter parliament, their level of delivery would largely depend on their competence, characteristics and ability to drive change, and push for an inclusive Namibian society.
“They have a numerical advantage to ensure broader issues affecting young people, more particularly unemployment, participation in politics and decision-making, are addressed. This is the time that political parties listen to the young people because of the numerical advantage with which the voters’ roll is dominated by young people. The Electoral Comission of Namibia (ECN) registered about 900 000 young
people as voters for this year’s election. And that is propelling political parties to make
sure their lists look youthful, because they might be in trouble if those 900 000 young people turn out on election day,” said Kamwanyah.
Despite the dominance of young people on the various parties’ parliamentary lists, he expressed disappointment with the impact and competence of the previous crop of young people who went to parliament.
He said many of them were brought in as a token to appease and appeal to young people.
“We have seen from the past that those young people who were brought in from across different political parties ended up being dormant because of the political culture in this country. The culture is such that you must tip-toe the political lines, and that you must not step outside the aspect of collective decisions at party level…”
“We have also seen how many of them ended up being ineffective because they had to follow what the political parties want. But also, to some extent, they lack experience, skills and knowledge of policy issues and challenges facing Namibia,” he pointed out.
Kamwanyah said young people sometimes get agitated so quickly. They think mainly about the present and the future, but they don’t link it to the historical trajectory of this country, and there needs to be a balance.
On the young voters, he said: “They have the ball in their court in the sense that if they turn out to vote for the political parties of their choice, they will change the direction of this country. But more particularly is the fact that their interests will be part and parcel of the political development and economic agenda of this country. Therefore, they must consider themselves as an important voting power and bloc. They must, especially during these campaigns, raise issues which pertain to young people’s interests. They must push political parties to include youth matters in their manifestos. They must ensure they participate in decision-making processes, including when ministers and ambassadors are being appointed.”
Candidates
On the benefits of a young and vibrant parliament, particularly in terms of the country’s policy and economic outlook, a few young politicians shared their thoughts.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)’s Maximalliant Katjimune, one of party leader McHenry Venaani’s appointees to parliament, shared his thoughts on how this could streamline the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“The youth will account for a significant majority of voters during this year’s elections. It is, therefore, the young people who will determine who will command political power over the country for the next five years. What is more encouraging is that young voters are less concerned about the politics of the liberation struggle, and are now solely basing their votes on bread-and-butter issues,” said the young legislator.
The 26-year-old Katjimune added that the effect of a youthful parliament is that it will be a legislature which will focus on contemporary and futuristic issues that matter, and not on sideshows.
“A significant number of Members of Parliament will be young people who understand the complexities of the youth unemployment crisis, the economy, education, and what generally needs to happen if we are to place the country on an upward economic and social trajectory. So, these are definitely very exciting times,” he enthused.
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM)’s youth leader Duminga Ndala argued that the increased presence of young candidates on parliamentary lists could significantly influence the election outcome, as young voters may feel more represented by their peers.
“This demographic shift can lead to more engaging campaigns centred on youth issues. Additionally, younger representatives are likely to promote innovative approaches to governance, fostering collaboration and adaptability in policymaking. Political parties could likewise benefit from the fresh perspectives and energy that younger candidates bring, potentially resulting in a higher voter turnout and greater engagement among the youth demographic,” the youthful leader believes.
She said a youthful NA is likely to address youth-related issues with a sense of urgency and relevance which resonates with younger citizens, as their personal experiences can inform their strategies, making them more relatable and effective in tackling challenges.