ONYAANYA – Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) spokesman Job Amupanda exhorted youth to be proactive and transform from being the ordinary into substantive citizens with a foothold in the economy.
Amupanda, who was speaking at a handover of books at Uukule Secondary School in Oshikoto Region on Wednesday, advised the youth to redefine citizenship in terms of what the youth can do.
“We need to move away from the mentality of ‘I have an ID’ – we want to go beyond the ID and be substantive citizenship,” said Amupanda.
Amupanda stressed that education is key to success and although he acknowledged the education system was bad before independence he said the trend cannot continue in a post-independent Namibia.
He said that government has done well so far, but added that the issue of insufficient funds cannot be used as a justification for learners not to have adequate resources or why schools are not well equipped while millions continue to be misappropriated “You cannot say there is no money, while money is being squandered,” Amupanda told his youth audience.
Amupanda urged transparency and equal circulation of information on what is happening in the country.
In the same vein he encouraged the youth to acquaint themselves with current affairs, know their rights, be informed and be able to do something for themselves and other youth.
He said being a youth means being able to do something about unjust situations and able to make a difference in the lives of other citizens including the youth.