Young blood cause a stir at ‘pot’

A buzz of youthful energy is expected to shake up the National Assembly next year following the exceptional performance of some of the ruling party’s young guns at its electoral college in the capital at the weekend. The Swapo list of nominee lawmakers produced some surprises with former Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) leader Lucia Iipumbu outperforming tried and tested female party cadres to make it at number two on the Swapo female list after Windhoek mayor Agnes Kafula, who was the top performer. Aged 38, Iipumbu, who is a former SPYL secretary for finance and administration, is not the only young politician who caused a stir at the momentous electoral college, which also implemented the 50/50 gender quota. Her male peers, including 36-year-old incumbent deputy secretary of the SPYL Veikko Nekundi, also did extremely well against established male politicians. Nekundi, whose meteoric rise over the years saw him elected as member of the Swapo central committee in 2012, came in at position 13 overall. The other young guns who are guaranteed National Assembly seats are 36-year-old Sacky Shanghala and Natangwe Iithete, 38. Iithete, who is a board member of the National Youth Council (NYC), is 19th on the list, while Shanghala, who was one of the proponents of the Third Constitutional Amendment Bill, which ironically sought to increase the number of seats in the National Assembly, came in at 47. Shanghala is currently employed as the chairperson of Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC) and there is talk that he might be considered for a leading role at the Justice Ministry and in the Office of the Attorney-General. Ready for shake-up In a brief interview with Namibian Sun yesterday, both Iipumbu and Nekundi said they are all on a mission to be heard as far as pushing the youth agenda is concerned. “It is our responsibility to inject dynamic thinking, initiatives and alternatives in parliament in order to accelerate the advancement of young people,” said Nekundi. “Everything will be done within the confines of the movement that I represent, government, the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia. It will be a holistic approach that will benefit all members of the Namibian society and not just the youth.” He added that he was not surprised by his good showing at the Swapo ‘pot’. Said Nekundi: “I was not surprised. I was ready to be in the top ten. I was ready to be in the top 20 and top 30. I was also ready not to make it. I would like to thank my comrades for the solidarity that they have shown at the convention and I will not let them down.” Iipumbu said she was very surprised to see senior party members throwing their weight behind her. “I was overwhelmed and did not expect that,” she said. “I think my work as a former SPYL leader has marketed me well. I did not notice that my seniors would support me at the electoral college. When I was campaigning in the regions I was assured of their support but didn’t know that it will turn out this way.” The other relatively young politicians who are assured parliamentary seats include Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta, 46, who finished at the top on the male list, and Deputy Youth Minister Juliet Kavetuna, also aged 46. One of the ten presidential nominees, Christine //Hoebes, will also be one of the youngest female parliamentarians. //Hoebes is also 46 years old. WINDHOEK FESTUS NAKATANA