This week, Namibia joined the rest of Africa in commemorating the Day of the African Child, in which the youth are the focus. 

A day later, by-elections in five constituencies took place. 

In most of these constituencies, voting was marred by a low voter turnout. 

Namibians, for reasons known to them, decided to stay away from voting despite having registered. 

Was it an orchestrated move or perhaps just circumstantial? 

Be as it may, a low voter turnout is bad news for democracy on any day. 

It all begs the question: is the youth’s participation in politics only superficial and more on social media as purported? 

What makes them stay away from the ballot boxes?

With young people under the age of 35 accounting for 71.1% of an estimated three million Namibians, the youth cannot be ignored as a decisive voting bloc.

But do they know that, by voting, they can influence issues that affect their lives – bread and butter issues? What more motivation do they need?

Elections in Namibia have always witnessed the lacklustre participation of the youth. 

Youth voter apathy has always been a concern, reflecting how little interest they have in the political sphere. 

But little do they know how decisions made today on their behalf, because they are just not interested, will surely affect them. 

Sentiments that politics does not affect their lives right now will slap them squarely in the face when they are older.

They will experience the pressures of adulthood – be it education, marriage, buying a house, medical aid or even starting a business.

Excuses for not knowing how to vote, where to vote or whom to vote for are unacceptable.

 No youth can say ‘I didn’t know’ – not in this day and age with easy access to information on the internet.

This nonchalance is unacceptable. 

Even saying that the exercise is fruitless because their votes do not count is an uneducated or ill-informed excuse. 

If that is the feeling, then they should not come back and say the government is useless and does not do anything for its people.

 Only those who vote can have a say, as voting will give them the power to speak up against the lack of accountability by political parties and politicians.

The youth are the largest voting populace, and thus crucial to building stable and peaceful societies as well as developing policies that respond to their specific needs.

However, for young people to be adequately represented in political institutions, processes and decision-making, they must know their rights and be given the necessary knowledge and capacity to participate in a meaningful way at all levels.

Young people appear disillusioned with the current state of affairs, resulting in a huge number staying away from polls. 

In a country troubled by severe social and economic problems, including youth unemployment that has spiralled out of control, it would be advisable for politicians to put renewed focus on the bread-and-butter issues.

In addressing low voter turnout, parents and educators should step in and share information and knowledge about what happens during the process – from registering to putting a cross on the ballot paper.

The onus is also on the youth to stand up and be counted. 

Their majority as a voting bloc must have meaning beyond the walls of the Namibia Statistics Agency and the Electoral Commission of Namibia.

The youth, too, should be eager to find out how the process works to exercise their right to vote by educating themselves. 

The politicians elected and their policies will impact their lives. 

Take part in day-to-day discussions on politics. 

Find out how the government works. 

Play your part – make your mark.