Elderly dominate Kavango elections as youth stay home
Youth miss opportunity to influence future
Community activist Frans Moyo warned the youth not to expect change if they don't participate in elections.
The 27 November presidential and National Assembly elections highlighted a concerning trend in the Kavango East and West regions, where elderly voters dominated polling stations, while the youth, despite being the largest demographic, were noticeably absent.
A Namibian Sun investigation found that polling stations across the two regions were dominated by older voters. This is despite data from the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) indicating that 42% of registered voters nationwide are aged between 18 and 34.
According to ECN data released in October, 609 596 youth registered to vote, out of a total of 1 449 569 registered voters nationwide. While this reflected enthusiasm during registration, it failed to translate into active participation at the polls in the Kavango regions.
Board chairperson of the Divundu Village Council Christoph Kupembona expressed disappointment at the youth's lack of engagement.
“Elections are the only platform where citizens can make their voices heard. Since the majority of this country's population is made up of youth, their failure to vote essentially means they are not part of the decisions regarding how the country will be governed for the next five years,” he said.
“As much as the youth desire change in governance, that change will not happen if they do not participate in the democratic process. By not turning up to vote, the youth are effectively giving the mandate to the elderly to make decisions on their behalf. It is disappointing to see how active the youth are on various social media platforms yet fail to engage in issues that determine their future,” he added.
Discouraged
Rundu-based community activist Frans Moyo said elders tend to vote based on their past experiences, what they currently see and what they hope to see in the future.
“Young people often lack exposure to the past and have higher expectations for immediate results. They focus on the present and frequently express sentiments like, ‘We are seeing nothing,’ referring to a lack of visible development,” Moyo said.
Moyo attributed low voter turnout among the youth to discouragement, primarily stemming from high unemployment rates.
“Young people expect significant changes within a short period, but unemployment is a major factor demotivating them. They might want to vote for a specific party but feel there’s little to gain as they don’t see immediate benefits,” he said.
Voter’s education
He added that many young people fail to recognise the importance of collective participation in democracy.
“Some of the young people I’ve spoken to share these exact sentiments. Unfortunately, they don’t realise that change can only come if we all participate in the democratic process. Voting creates opportunities and empowers leaders to bring about the change we desire,” Moyo added.
“If you don’t vote, what then? For those who don’t participate, they might still complain about a lack of progress. But how can they expect change if they haven’t contributed, even minimally, by casting a vote? By not voting, they lose their chance to influence the future they want.”
Moyo believes many young people lack an understanding of the long-term value of voting.
“This is why education about the importance of voting is crucial. Such education shouldn’t only happen during election campaigns but should start early, in households, schools, and communities,” he said.
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#NamibiaDecides2024
A Namibian Sun investigation found that polling stations across the two regions were dominated by older voters. This is despite data from the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) indicating that 42% of registered voters nationwide are aged between 18 and 34.
According to ECN data released in October, 609 596 youth registered to vote, out of a total of 1 449 569 registered voters nationwide. While this reflected enthusiasm during registration, it failed to translate into active participation at the polls in the Kavango regions.
Board chairperson of the Divundu Village Council Christoph Kupembona expressed disappointment at the youth's lack of engagement.
“Elections are the only platform where citizens can make their voices heard. Since the majority of this country's population is made up of youth, their failure to vote essentially means they are not part of the decisions regarding how the country will be governed for the next five years,” he said.
“As much as the youth desire change in governance, that change will not happen if they do not participate in the democratic process. By not turning up to vote, the youth are effectively giving the mandate to the elderly to make decisions on their behalf. It is disappointing to see how active the youth are on various social media platforms yet fail to engage in issues that determine their future,” he added.
Discouraged
Rundu-based community activist Frans Moyo said elders tend to vote based on their past experiences, what they currently see and what they hope to see in the future.
“Young people often lack exposure to the past and have higher expectations for immediate results. They focus on the present and frequently express sentiments like, ‘We are seeing nothing,’ referring to a lack of visible development,” Moyo said.
Moyo attributed low voter turnout among the youth to discouragement, primarily stemming from high unemployment rates.
“Young people expect significant changes within a short period, but unemployment is a major factor demotivating them. They might want to vote for a specific party but feel there’s little to gain as they don’t see immediate benefits,” he said.
Voter’s education
He added that many young people fail to recognise the importance of collective participation in democracy.
“Some of the young people I’ve spoken to share these exact sentiments. Unfortunately, they don’t realise that change can only come if we all participate in the democratic process. Voting creates opportunities and empowers leaders to bring about the change we desire,” Moyo added.
“If you don’t vote, what then? For those who don’t participate, they might still complain about a lack of progress. But how can they expect change if they haven’t contributed, even minimally, by casting a vote? By not voting, they lose their chance to influence the future they want.”
Moyo believes many young people lack an understanding of the long-term value of voting.
“This is why education about the importance of voting is crucial. Such education shouldn’t only happen during election campaigns but should start early, in households, schools, and communities,” he said.
[email protected]
[email protected]
#NamibiaDecides2024
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