• Home
  • COLUMNS
  • Older generation or the aspiring youth - who is right?
Older generation or the aspiring youth - who is right?
Older generation or the aspiring youth - who is right?

Older generation or the aspiring youth - who is right?

Yanna Smith
By Goli Banda

In primordial societies, the youth were inclined to respect their elders but today this appears akin to entrusting groundnuts to mice, a move that neither a hungry nor a rich man would venture at. The youth want the old guard out on account of being let down, while the elders throw a harsh amount of criticism at those we only hope will not throw the same amount when their time comes. However, to touch on the current stance of inequality is not my area of interest, rather the approach of the youth and the response they get from the elders. As we wish for a better tomorrow, the question remains - who is right and who is wrong?

Article 28 of the Namibian constitution addresses the age suitable for one to hold public office, particularly running for the seat of president. The constitution declares 35 years of age as fit for one to contest. To confine ourselves within the law is wise and in doing so we realise also that gerontocracy or rule dominated by elders in a democratic society only becomes a matter of questioning if the rulers’ reign is not determined by the decisions of the majority. The same applies to the rule of young elites… anything that stipulates that age should be questioned with the exception of the law is a theory that needs rechecking. The law stands above all. Now let’s assume that this law was penned by a supreme being for by doing so, in the long run, we render it the respect it deserves. Let the law be the law and matters that require debate be debated in an effort to prevent chaos.

The problem in the political arena today is more than just the issue of age… it is finger pointing about who did not do better, who is not better, and when should one relinquish power. It is this finger pointing, inspired by self-worth, a utilitarian approach that shuns political correctness. In the overall circumstances it is easy to foresee that people being laid off from their positions for behaving in a certain manner, is somewhat peculiar. “The giant must not look down on the dwarf that does not see ahead as him, he may want to look up to him because he sees the ants that bite his feet.” Knowledge is bestowed upon everyone and it is vital to listen to one another, even to the smallest.

In the 18th century of African history, we see that the greatest fall of kingdoms not only emanated from succession disputes that rose among relatives of the dead king, but also what the successor would implement to ensure his total grip to power. In the western province of the country presently known as Zambia there once lived King Sekeletu of the Makololo people. When he came to power in 1851 as a young man, history indicates his authoritarian regime later found him laying off all the elders from positions of Indunas (subordinate chiefs) to replace them with young men of his age. I wonder if we have learned anything or are doing anything different from our forefathers… an Igbo proverb of Nigeria says that, “when mother cow is chewing the young ones watch its mouth”.

Professor Joseph Diescho in his column published in a daily newspaper, entitled “Healing a sick nation” Part 2, warns of a failed state that is at hand and that is worsening as politics evolve to the unpleasant side. Ndumba J. Kamwanyah, lecturer and deputy director for professional development at the University of Namibia, in his article entitled “Appreciate a life well-lived” stated that “the younger generation show the same leadership styles; the same self-entitlement mindset; the same self-regard mindset as their elders,” and this does not sound peculiar at all.

To every force there is an equal and opposite force and in a democratic set-up such as ours, society needs radical views and not radical people… and we need to act quickly before it becomes a trend and a culture, where potentially an anomie would be the product rather than real and desired change. What society needs is improving the livelihoods of the ruled from which anyone who aspires to hold public office derives his motivation, enthusiasm and reason to stand.

We are a collective force and we must ensure that our actions are rational, for knowledge and wisdom is bestowed in each one of us to run one engine.

We must shun away from making groups within groups, but maintain making deferent views within us.

We must understand that no one is wrong and no one is right. Not even age determines that.

We are all right and we are all wrong, but the majority get to decide, for the power to endow in others is bestowed in them by law.

Let us listen to one another, we are all giants and the grass expects better.

Those are the defining factors of a mature and democratic state that we must admit daily not having attained and we must remember political correctness is vital. Inclusion is a necessity to meet shared access to national affairs and economic development, but exclusion, a product of radical people, eradicates divisions and promotes diversity.

*Goli Banda is a student at the University of Namibia’s Faculty of Humanities.

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-03-29

No comments have been left on this article

Please login to leave a comment

Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 29° Eenhana: 19° | 29° Oshakati: 21° | 30° Ruacana: 20° | 33° Tsumeb: 19° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 29° Omaruru: 19° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 17° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 20° Wind speed: 22km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 11:22, High tide: 05:24, Low Tide: 23:26, High tide: 17:46 Swakopmund: 16° | 17° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:22, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:44 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:21, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:43 Rehoboth: 19° | 30° Mariental: 23° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 35° Aranos: 22° | 33° Lüderitz: 15° | 28° Ariamsvlei: 24° | 35° Oranjemund: 14° | 25° Luanda: 27° | 28° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 26° Mbabane: 16° | 21° Maseru: 11° | 29° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 27° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 28° Durban: 20° | 24° Johannesburg: 16° | 24° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 20° | 30° Harare: 16° | 29° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.8 | EUR to NAD 20.37 | CNY to NAD 2.62 | USD to NAD 18.9 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.77 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.15 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.91 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 233.12/OZ UP +1.93% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.12% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.65/BBP UP +1.46% | Platinum US$ 908.62/OZ UP +1.53% Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 29° Eenhana: 19° | 29° Oshakati: 21° | 30° Ruacana: 20° | 33° Tsumeb: 19° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 29° Omaruru: 19° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 17° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 20° Wind speed: 22km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 11:22, High tide: 05:24, Low Tide: 23:26, High tide: 17:46 Swakopmund: 16° | 17° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:22, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:44 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:21, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:43 Rehoboth: 19° | 30° Mariental: 23° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 35° Aranos: 22° | 33° Lüderitz: 15° | 28° Ariamsvlei: 24° | 35° Oranjemund: 14° | 25° Luanda: 27° | 28° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 26° Mbabane: 16° | 21° Maseru: 11° | 29° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 27° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 28° Durban: 20° | 24° Johannesburg: 16° | 24° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 20° | 30° Harare: 16° | 29° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.8 | EUR to NAD 20.37 | CNY to NAD 2.62 | USD to NAD 18.9 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.77 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.15 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.91 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 233.12/OZ UP +1.93% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.12% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.65/BBP UP +1.46% | Platinum US$ 908.62/OZ UP +1.53%