Unam Political Society pleads for youth engagement in national governance
"We make up the largest percentage of the Namibian demographic, but our voices do not match it."This was one of the powerful statements made by a member of the UNAM Political Society.
In a bid to address the growing need for young voices in national governance, the UNAM Political Society held an event on 30 May to advocate for greater youth inclusion. The event was attended by students and student representatives from various Namibian political parties.
Currently, young people in Namibia remain underrepresented in decision-making and political matters, despite comprising 71.1% of the population, according to the 2023 census. Of this number, only 8% are present in the Namibian Parliament.
To address this imbalance, the UNAM Political Society created a platform for young voices through panel discussions, allowing participants to exchange perspectives on Namibia’s democratic system, voice dissatisfaction with current politicians, and express concerns over the lack of youth representation in government.
The panel discussions were insightful, with students exploring the reasons behind their underrepresentation and proposing solutions to improve the situation.
The most prominent idea was that young people must stand together and ensure their voices are heard.
“As young people, we need to become pests to our politicians. We are far too used to celebrating underperforming politicians,” said Armando Pieters, a member of the Political Society. Students also emphasised that the youth should not solely blame the government for the lack of youth participation, but also hold fellow young people accountable for their complacency.
It is evident that Namibian youth want to be more actively involved in shaping the country’s future. They want to help build a nation that serves both themselves and future generations.
Events like these are vital in uniting young people, fostering a sense of purpose, and reinvigorating those who may have become demotivated.