Youth Leaders Discuss Challenges

• By Allexer Namundjembo

In Namibia’s political landscape, youth voices remain strikingly underrepresented despite their growing numbers and potential.

Interviews with youth leaders from various political parties reveal a tapestry of challenges the younger generation faces as they strive to make an impact.

From navigating entrenched party structures to overcoming socioeconomic barriers, young leaders push for greater involvement and reform.

Swapo Party Youth League’s spokesperson, Moses Sikerete, said the most effective way to encourage youth participation is to include the youth in mainstream politics.

‘’The youth will believe in a system that works and recognises them as equal role players of society.

“Motivation is crucial in everything. If the youth see it, it will be an automatic aspect; it won’t require much effort to have them involved,’’ he said.

Sikereteadded that the Swapo party has many programs aimed at empowering the youth through different programs, one being a standing agreement with other institutions of the region and the globe at which our young people are sent for political education and empowerment in leadership.

He said the programs aim to prepare the youth for roles that await them at different levels.

‘’The Swapo Party Youth League has done capacity-building workshops to capacitate grassroots leaders.

“We recently unveiled a technical advisory committee that is aimed at helping the youth league identify areas where we can influence policies to empower the youth of our country.

“We believe that a few years from now, the country should be able to see the fruits of such interventions,’’ Sikerete said.

Sikerete further added that those claiming that young people are not involved in politics, their claims do not match with the reality on the ground.

‘’The say that youth are not involved in politics is a bit out of touch with reality. Go around and observe how young people are fully involved in our nation’s politics. There is a possibility that there are those with perhaps little interest in politics, but our observations are that in recent years, the youth have taken the front row in civic participation,’’ he said.

Affirmative Repositioning Students’ command leader Onesmus Iyambo said the youth must be involved in active politics for political exposure.

‘’AR has always been a Movement of young women and men with talent and energy. We have always provided and will continue to provide direction on which our country ought to go.

“As a movement of young people, we brought about genuine change even when we are not in power yet or even represented in parliament,’’ Iyambo said.

Iyambo further added that youth involvement in politics is proven effective by citing what the youth achieved through his party.

‘’As young people, we were able to stop a 2-billion-dollar parliament that our plastic politicians wanted to build while the masses of our people were hungry; as young people, we were able to twist government hands and entered into an agreement that saw hundreds of Namibians getting their land and houses in different towns in the country, the AR Movement has fought and will continue to fight corruption.

“As young people, we should know and understand that the future of our country, our children and grandchildren is in our hands, and therefore, we should take charge,’’ he said.

LPM Youth element leader Duminga Ndala said the movement has taken resolutions advocating for increased representation of young people across all party structures to enhance their involvement in political processes and decision-making.

‘’As the LPM, we prioritise investing in extensive leadership training and workshops.

“These programs focus on imparting knowledge of the party’s ideological and political content, thereby equipping young individuals with essential skills needed to participate and actively assume greater political responsibilities’’ Ndala said.

Ndala said her movement established the Youth Command Element, a pivotal platform for youth engagement that facilitates political participation.

‘’I think one of the challenges I experienced is the perception of being inexperienced due to age. This often leads to being overlooked for key decision-making roles, especially when required to lead and make decisions on behalf of those who have served longer in the political arena’’ she added—specific concerns of young people.

This empowerment fosters active engagement and leadership development among youth members. Political youth leaders from Swanu, IPC, RDP and PDM were unavailable when reached out for comment.