Domestic politics and youth agenda

Andrew Heywood (2007) defined politics as the game of power and the exercise of authority to make collective decisions.He further stated that politics is the practice of deception and manipulation. Various commentators have defined politics as the dirty game of the losers and the means to an end for the winners.It is irrefutable that it is through the practice of politics whereby citizens elect their representatives, build institutions, and drive the implementation of domestic policies.Looking at Namibia, one can see the emerging generation of young people in the national discourse.The youth in Namibia are politically fragmented based on different ideologies, though they share commonalities of suffering, being sidelined, and being unable to enter the economic mainstream.This opinion piece seeks to trace and present the incorporation of a youth agenda into the national politics of Namibia.Generational conflict is inevitable, especially between the new ways of thinking of young minds and the wisdom of the old generation.The youth have realised that age has been used as a limiting factor for excelling in political leadership, institutional management, and global engagement.Historical evidence shows the fight against South African apartheid rule was fought by Namibian youth from all corners of the country.They engaged in political mobilisation, diplomatic dialogues, and military engagement against the common enemy.In that sense, the young people from that time, who were railway workers, farm workers, and mine workers, realised that the situation in the country was not acceptable.There was a need for the oppressed to unite and resist by all means. In the course of this realisation, there was no difference in colour, ethnicity, creed or economic background, but only the common course.The yesteryear youth are the elders of today who hold key government and private positions. One may ask: do they understand the youth agenda of today? Are the youth convincing the political actors of today that the key issue for the youth is stability through economic emancipation?Driving changeSince independence, the political environment has evolved from traditional politics to politics that are in line with international standards.However, the youth&#039;s resistance and generational conflicts continue in post-independence Namibia.The difference between youth ideologies and political programmes was among the reasons for the formation of the Congress of Democrats in 1999 in a political departure of some Swapo cadres.The trend has further extended to the formations of RDP, APP, LPM, AR and IPC respectively.Although all these political parties and organisations were formed in different political climates, there is a common element of generational conflicts between the old guard and new political rivals.What is fascinating is that there is an increasing age gap between the political leaders in the mother party and the new rivals.This is a direct indication that age is a factor in youth politics, as is the sense of youth views being sidelined. When the youth are accosted within any political formation with their intelligentsia, they may become ungovernable and can impact progress because they feel excluded from the high table.Competition of ideasDuring the past 10 years, the Namibian political scene has become a battle for youth recognition and emerging ideas that support the youth movement in the region and at the continental level.South African youth and their political consciousness have contributed to the narration and expression of Namibian student politics through the Fees Must Fall movement and the need for decolonialisation of academic institutions and colonial laws, respectively.The first generation in the public sector has responded and viewed the youth as a lost and uncalled-for generation. The question to be asked is whether the competition between ideologies, and thinking in terms of governance, policy, and development at large, is a crime.The youth agenda has been coming in and out of the political scene, championed by intellectuals and activists from outside and within political formations.Comparing the 2014 political party manifestos revealed an element of youth inclusion that sparked hope.In assessing the 2019 general elections, one sees a shift of power base to the minds of youth, motivated by high unemployment, insufficient housing, and economic inequality.Road to 2024To followers of national politics, it is undeniable that domestic politics is, more than ever, facing new terrain on the way to the 2024 general elections.To survive, a different tactical approach and mindset are required, as is a thick skin.Experienced politicians will have to prioritise their political survival before looking at the policy issues.Although the rules of the political game won’t change, one should ask the leaders of all youth political wings, youth organisations, and institutions, if they have a common youth agenda.At the recently completed Swapo Party Congress, re-elected youth secretary, Efraim Nekongo, indicated that the elders shall not bring the youth into their battles, which I think is a complex and pivotal point.This statement holds water, and I hope it will not just serve as a political statement, but something that should be said by every youth leader in any political formation. And the statement should be pragmatically applied.At the same Congress, one could also sense the external forces pulling and pushing the youth delegates to strategise and prepare the seat for the new sheriff.In the art of politics, the political actors sense and read the situation and use the pressing need to climb to power, which in this case, is prioritising youth.A young person&#039;s vote must be earned by character, reputation, and trust.In the final analysis, the young generation in Namibia is faced with uncountable challenges, which cannot be solved in a blink of an eye.However, the political actors from all political formations present themselves as the messiah of the Namibian youth, which is not entirely true.Although you cannot see what is in the mind of the next person, you will be able to use the existing data and examples to adjust your views and look at how you can navigate within the changing political environment.It is high time that all the young leaders from all institutions, regardless of their political beliefs, talk about and drive common youth programmes that address existing and foreseeable challenges. Youth challenges can be anticipated, spoken about, but the real solution is unity among the youth.*David Fono Shoombe holds a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Namibia. He is also YALI alumnus in public management and governance. He is a vice curator for the Global Shapers Windhoek Hub. He is passionate about youth development and global relations.

Domestic politics and youth agenda

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-29

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Domestic politics and youth agenda

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-29

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