You can't be serious, Netumbo!
28 October 2020 | Opinion
When young Namibians, especially women, seek political inspiration, they peep into the history and draw courage from the likes of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, our deputy prime minister.
In 1976 at the age of 24, she was already a member of the Swapo Central Committee.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made headlines this week for, many have argued, the wrong reasons.
She bemoaned the crowdedness of the political space ahead of this year's election and, rather disappointingly, said that young people are not ready to lead.
The latter point in particular is disappointing, coming from someone to whom life was very kind in her youth.
She premised her observation of supposed youth non-readiness on their behaviour on social media.
Yet, in truth, there is no evidence to suggest that her own generation did not have rotten apples of its own.
The current youth, just like any other generation that preceded it in the history of mankind, has individuals who possess the very values for which Nandi-Ndaitwah was made Swapo chief representative to Zambia in 1978, at the age of 26.
Nandi-Ndaitwah comes across as a democratic, well-read politician (her master's degree in diplomatic studies is from the UK's Keele University) whose integrity is beyond reproach.
In the twilight of her career, the obligation to jealously protect what Namibians have historically perceived her to be becomes even more compelling.
In 1976 at the age of 24, she was already a member of the Swapo Central Committee.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made headlines this week for, many have argued, the wrong reasons.
She bemoaned the crowdedness of the political space ahead of this year's election and, rather disappointingly, said that young people are not ready to lead.
The latter point in particular is disappointing, coming from someone to whom life was very kind in her youth.
She premised her observation of supposed youth non-readiness on their behaviour on social media.
Yet, in truth, there is no evidence to suggest that her own generation did not have rotten apples of its own.
The current youth, just like any other generation that preceded it in the history of mankind, has individuals who possess the very values for which Nandi-Ndaitwah was made Swapo chief representative to Zambia in 1978, at the age of 26.
Nandi-Ndaitwah comes across as a democratic, well-read politician (her master's degree in diplomatic studies is from the UK's Keele University) whose integrity is beyond reproach.
In the twilight of her career, the obligation to jealously protect what Namibians have historically perceived her to be becomes even more compelling.
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