With elections done and dusted, at least for the next four or five years, the youth have sent a clear warning that empty promises and broken governance will no longer be tolerated.

This generation has not refused to participate, but is the accumulated fury of a group long taken for granted, aware of the stakes yet frustrated by repeated leadership failures.

In 2020, only 38.26% of eligible voters turned out for Regional Council elections, and local authority turnout barely reached 43%. These low turnouts are not signs of laziness but a silent protest against leaders who promise change yet deliver little beyond flashy vehicles and empty speeches.

Last year’s voter turnout was not impressive either.

For instance, out of the 752 043 eligible voters in the local authorities election, only 272 942 showed up on election day to cast their ballots.

That is a 36.29% voter turnout. Meanwhile, of the 1.5 million who registered for the regional councils election, only 606 013 (40.7%) voted

Columnists blame the youth as apathetic, but the reality I heard in villages, townships and market squares tells a different story. What looks like disengagement is actually a vote of no confidence in a leadership that has not earned their trust.

National data support this perspective, as youth unemployment in Namibia stands at a staggering 44.4%, with regions such as Kavango East experiencing youth unemployment as high as 60.4%.

Ground voices

Recently, I stopped at the four-way intersection by the only robots in Opuwo and asked numerous young people whether they voted in Local Authorities and Regional Councils elections.

A young woman who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

“Voting for who? Why waste my voice when councillors ignore letters and only speak to us when elections approach?” She lamented.

Another young man, wearing a red and white Arsenal jersey, said quietly, “Rest assured, I took the day off to watch my Netflix series; voting doesn’t help my brother.”

This was not an isolated view, it was part of a pattern of deep disappointment voiced repeatedly across the country.

A young resident of Rundu, who prefers to remain anonymous, said: “My trust is low, as concerns in my community take too long to be addressed, and service delivery is slow and inconsistent. I will feel my vote matters only when there are real, consistent improvements and more transparency from leaders.”

In Windhoek, Enos Eliakim offered a cautious hope: “I don’t really have trust in the system, but I hope under the leadership of NNN there will be major improvement.”

Windhoek resident Tobias Timoteus provides a different perspective:

“I have little trust in leaders; they are not the decision-makers, but I feel that seeing change in the community and leaders delivering what they promised in their manifesto gives my vote purpose.”

These responses illustrate that young people are not apathetic; they are watching and evaluating and withholding consent until they see accountability.

Youth vote matters

Local authorities and regional councils are not ceremonial bodies, they directly influence land allocations, housing, water supply, street lighting, business permits and many other aspects of their daily lives.  By voting, young people help decide who will make these decisions and ensure their communities’ needs are represented.

When youth abstain, decisions about critical services, local development, and youth programmes may proceed without their input. Initiatives such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and enterprise support risk losing political urgency. Without their voices at the ballot, young people relinquish influence on officials who may not prioritise their needs.

Active participation allows youth to hold leaders accountable, push for tangible change, and ensure that policies translate into real opportunities for their communities. In essence, voting is not just a right; it is the most effective tool for shaping the future they want to see.

Out of touch

If media reports are anything to go by, another discouraging practice driving youth away from the polling stations is the blatant disregard for laws by councillors who fail to reside in the constituencies they represent, a direct contravention of the Regional Councils Act.

In the past, New Era reported that the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Katutura constituency councillor Vezemba Rodman Katjaimo does not stay in the constituency he leads. It is alleged that he lives in one of Windhoek’s wealthy locations, Rocky Crest, while presiding over one of Windhoek’s poorest constituencies (Katutura Central).

Similarly, it is reported that Omuthiya councillor and former mayor Johannes Ndeutepo had been the mayor of that town while employed in Windhoek on a full-time basis.

This represents a direct insult to the very idea of local governance, and for young Namibians, this is proof that rules are ignored and leadership is for the few, not the people.

This gap between law and enforcement shows that rules exist, but accountability does not. Research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) highlights that youth turnout is unpredictable and significantly low, particularly in urban centres, signalling a political system out of touch with citizens’ expectations.

What must change?

Leaders must stop lecturing youth and show why their votes matter. Youth participation will only increase when politicians demonstrate tangible outcomes such as functional youth centres, measurable internship programmes, support for local enterprises, and economic opportunities in every region.

Young people are not the problem; they are the conscience of the nation. Ignore them and the silence at polling stations will be a verdict we cannot escape.

* Kazara Ndovazu is a youth empowerment advocate from Orokapare, Kunene region. He writes in his personal capacity.