Education important in politics

Although the Swapo government continues to preach the importance of education, the party itself continues to catapult uneducated persons into leadership positions and hand them mandates they have no clue about.

The victims of such reckless decisions are none other than the masses of our people who, in the case of the regional and local authority elections scheduled for next month, have no right in law to directly vote for leaders they want.

The regional councillors, who are eventually elected directly, are first elected within their parties before being presented to the masses as candidates.

Such councillors – including the local authority ones - become powerful administrators after winning elections and they need basic knowledge and education to perform their duties.

If councillors do not need any recognised level of education, it may as well mean that their jobs are mickey mouse and a waste of our scare resources.

Education brings more than just reading skills. It enhances a person’s understanding of the world and improves their general outlook on life.

Politicians must be educated to a certain level in order to make rational decisions that serve society better. Being a cadre that leads the chorus at party rallies and distribute scarves should never qualify anyone as a councillor at the expense of their level of education.

Maybe the wave of new young candidates aspiring for office will bring with them some much-needed bits of education.