Of the 1.4 million registered voters in Namibia, 901 316 were born after 1982, making them younger than 42 and considered to be part of the youth.

This was announced by the Electoral Commission of Namibia at a press conference yesterday where it also handed over voters’ registers to all registered political parties taking part in the national elections scheduled for this year.

The revelation was a stark reminder that if these young voters turn out en masse to cast their vote in the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 27 November 2024, they could singlehandedly determine who presides over the affairs of the republic beyond 21 March 2025.

Further, official statistics show that 1 051 registered voters were born before 1925, another 27 978 between 1925 and 1944, while 521 099 were born between 1945 and 1981.

Reality check

Now let us address the elephant in the room: the general voter apathy among young voters and general disinterest in participating in the politics of the day.

“I don’t do politics,” is a common phrase thrown around by young people.

Another is, “politics is for old people.”

It is a travesty that most young Namibians have given up on politics and see it as a forte for the elderly.

As such, it should worry us all that in Africa, generally, Namibia in particular, young people constitute a significant majority of the electorate, but they do not vote. 

Their participation in active politics is at a very low level, as the greater majority have elected to sit on the fence, taking a wait-and-see approach, and waiting for a “bright” future to unfold before them, yet they do not dictate the future they want to live participation in politics at all levels to choose leaders they think will bring them the future they desire.

However, with yesterday’s revelation by the ECN, we hope the status quo will change for the better as by registering as voters, they youth are actually declaring that they will indeed vote this year.

Young voters must be reminded of the harsh reality that whether they do politics or leave it to those in the twilight of their lives, politics will still do them, regardless.

It is an open secret that the voter turnout at national and regional elections has taken a nosedive since 1989 when close to 700 000 eligible voters exercised their democratic right.

That vote propelled Swapo to power and Founding President Sam Nujoma to the highest office in the land – the Presidency – ushering in the post-apartheid era in Namibia.

If ever there was a time to drastically change the status quo, it is now.

In essence, Namibia is pinning hopes on youth voters and young politicians to stand up and be counted at this year’s polls, be it on political parties’ parliamentary lists, in long queues braving the unforgiving November heat, the voting booths, or even on the ballot paper. Young people, make your vote count, it does not matter where on the electoral food chain. 

Although it is an unpopular statement, those who conveniently choose not to participate in the electoral process effectively give up their right to complain when the affairs of the country do not go their way.

The government makes decisions about every aspect of our lives, from the construction of roads, hospitals and schools, industries, farming, exports and imports, taxes and rates, environmental rules and protection, workplace conditions and basic salaries, and even the laws that shape communities.

By voting, you voice your opinion on issues that affect your daily life: from the price of basic needs such as bread, milk and fuel, to complex matters such as employment-creation, student funding, land delivery and urban housing, through the representative democratic system of the vote.

While political parties, civil society organisations, the Electoral Commission, and the media have a civic duty to educate voters about the importance of their participation, the onus to cast that vote, acquire the requisite information to make informed decisions, rests squarely on voters themselves.

As the adage goes: “You can take a donkey to a waterhole, but you cannot force it to drink.” The same goes for voters.

American women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony once said: “Someone struggled (died) for your right to vote. Use it.” 

Her message is true to Namibians, where thousands paid the ultimate price, through their blood, to water our freedom. Young people, stand up and be counted!