Lahja Nashuuta
Recent statistics show that young people constitute 71.1% of Namibia’s total population, with over 900 000 of them having registered to vote.
Furthermore, young people represent 10% of the members of the National Assembly, while the National Council has less than 5% of its leaders under the age of 35.
Despite these meagre figures, the youth have expressed dissatisfaction regarding their exclusion from decision-making processes. Additionally, the current young leaders have been criticised for not adequately addressing the challenges faced by their peers, and their involvement in governance, particularly in parliament, has been deemed unsatisfactory.
Key issues such as youth unemployment, access to educational funding, teenage pregnancies and abortion have been cited as critical areas where young decision-makers in the legislature have significantly
under-performed.
Analysts
Legal analyst Natjirikasorua Tjirera acknowledged that the present youth in parliament have not effectively championed the youth agenda, which leaves a lot to be desired.
He noted: “It is unfortunate that the agendas of political parties are largely influenced by older members.
Namibia still lacks international-standard football stadiums, yet youth representatives have not raised substantial concerns about this, despite sports being a major source of employment for young people globally.”
“The young MPs appear to prioritise their party loyalty over the interests of the youth as a whole,” he said.
Tjirera suggested the establishment of a youth caucus within Parliament, where young members could convene to discuss issues affecting the youth, and make decisions that would benefit them.
He added: “The Parliamentary Youth Caucus should serve as the voice of the youth, collectively advocating the youth agenda without compromise.”
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the concerns raised by the youth regarding their exclusion from decision-making processes indicate a significant disparity between representation and genuine participation.
He acknowledged that while the presence of young parliamentarians in the country is a commendable step towards representation, it does not inherently lead to effective advocacy for youth issues.
Kamwanyah emphasised that some young parliamentarians may face limitations due to party allegiance, insufficient experience or the existing political culture, which can hinder their capacity to challenge established norms and prioritise issues pertinent to the youth.
He noted that there may be a disconnect between the topics they engage with and the daily experiences of their peers, fostering the belief that they do not adequately represent the interests of the wider youth demographic.
To effectively tackle youth-related issues in Namibia, he called for a comprehensive approach which includes empowerment and capacity-building.
He furthermore suggested that young parliamentarians should receive training, mentorship and resources to enhance their ability to advocate youth concerns.
“This would involve improving their comprehension of policy-making processes, and developing strategies for effective lobbying within Parliament,” he said.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of actively involving young people in decision-making at all levels, extending beyond Parliament – establishing platforms for youth engagement in local governance, civil society and national policy dialogues.
Kamwanyah called for the formulation and execution of a clear agenda centred on youth employment, education, mental health and entrepreneurship, necessitating collaboration among young MPs, civil society and the broader youth community.
Frederico Links, a research associate at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), asserted that the primary concern for Namibia is not the insufficient representation of youth within the leadership of various political parties, but rather the challenge of ensuring that competent politicians are emerging.
He emphasised that a significant problem in Namibia is the deficiency of quality politics, which correlates with a shortage of capable politicians.
“The focus should not solely be on increasing the number of youth politicians. Instead, we require more politicians of high quality, regardless of their age,” he stated.
Links also pointed out that young parliamentarians often lack seniority among their peers, which limits their ability to influence the parliamentary agenda of their respective parties. “It is important to acknowledge this reality. Generally, they must adhere to the directives of senior party leaders, making it unsurprising that they struggle to promote youth-related issues within parliament,” he remarked.
MPs react
In contrast to the viewpoints expressed, Maximaliant Katjimune, the Parliamentary Chief Whip of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), dismissed claims that the youth have not met expectations.
“As the PDM Parliamentary Youth Caucus, we have made significant efforts to highlight the concerns of young individuals through our motions, inquiries and active involvement in parliamentary standing committees,” he said. He further noted: “Inna Hengari introduced a motion addressing youth unemployment; I proposed a motion focused on supporting small and medium enterprises with various initiatives aimed at assisting young entrepreneurs; and Winnie Moongo presented motions related to health issues that directly affect the youth. We have exerted our utmost efforts, and will persist in this endeavour.”
Nevertheless, Katjimune expressed concern that despite the introduction of these motions, there appears to be a lack of political will from the Swapo-led executive to enact them.
“This has been a source of frustration for us, and it is an issue that needs to be addressed,” he remarked. Youthful PDM member Hidipo Hamata said his party’s young parliamentarians have demonstrated significant activity and commitment towards addressing issues faced by the youth.
“We have actively engaged in discussions surrounding employment, education and youth empowerment, ensuring that the perspectives of young Namibians are incorporated into the decision-making framework,” he noted.
Hamata emphasised that the involvement of young individuals in decision-making processes is not merely a preference; it is essential for the future of this nation.
Hengari, a passionate and frequent participant in parliamentary debates, also rejected the sentiments, asserting that she has played her role in advocating the creation of more employment opportunities, enhancing access to quality education, and ensuring that the voices of the youth are not only acknowledged, but also acted upon.
She has raised concerns regarding the alarming youth unemployment rates in Namibia, and persistently urged the government to adopt more effective policies to tackle the challenge.
Hengari also called for a state of emergency to be declared in response to the Youth Unemployment Crisis.
Furthermore, she informed New Era that she has championed reforms in the education system, aiming to make it more inclusive and better aligned with the demands of the job market. She has consistently advocated for the reform of NSFAF, urging the removal of intermediaries in the loan-awarding process.
Utaara Mootu, one of the youngest parliamentarians, has been an outspoken advocate for youth issues.
Last year, she introduced a motion addressing the critical housing shortage in Namibia, which aimed to tackle funding deficiencies, and called for immediate policy reforms and innovative solutions.
Furthermore, Mootu’s motion proposed the introduction of a Land Value Tax to transform suburban development practices and encourage increased urban land density, potentially leading to more affordable housing.
“As youth, we must exercise patience with the implementation of policies. I understand that our youth are eager for opportunities to demonstrate their talents and hard work. However, the legislative process is inherently lengthy, and the execution of such laws necessitates patience,” said Benson Deriou, a member of the National Council from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).
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