If NYC delegates were around in 1959

Imagine this.

It is the late 1960s. Somewhere in exile, young Namibians have gathered in absolute secrecy to plan the liberation struggle. The enemy has helicopters. The apartheid regime has spies everywhere. History is holding its breath.

The chairperson rises. "Comrades... point of order!"

Then, across the room, another voice shouts: "Point of order, my arse!"

Within thirty seconds, someone has unplugged the microphone. Somebody else has disappeared with the attendance register. Two delegates are accusing each other of being apartheid spies because one failed to clap enthusiastically enough after the opening prayer.

Then, lo and behold, plastic chairs start flying.

"Voetsek, you sell-out!" one of them shouts.

And another responds: "Come outside then, you bloody coward!"

The liberation struggle is suspended while the credentials committee investigates whether the chairperson was properly nominated, seconded and spiritually endorsed.

By lunchtime, Operation Independence has been postponed pending legal advice.

Pretoria cancels two military exercises.

The generals conclude there is little point invading people who have already declared war on each other.

That, more or less, is the alternate history our modern crop of political prodigies would've written after last weekend's National Youth Council general assembly in Swakopmund – where nine delegates were left needing medical treatment.

One cannot help wondering how independence would've arrived had yesterday's freedom fighters possessed today's appetite for procedural warfare.

Imagine Andimba Toivo ya Toivo refusing to cross into Angola because the transport committee had allocated him the middle seat on the truck.

Picture Sam Nujoma announcing: "Comrades, the armed struggle is suspended until the credentials committee verifies which faction Comrade Petrus belongs to.”

Envision Hidipo Hamutenya threatening court action because somebody stole his Soviet-sponsored can of tuna.

There would be no Independence Day. Only postponements. Heroes' Acre would be a parking lot. Even the national anthem would still be under public consultation.

Of course, disagreements are not the problem. Democracy was never meant to resemble a church choir where everybody sings in perfect harmony. People disagree. They campaign. They lose. They regroup.

But somewhere between democracy and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), a few people appear to have mistaken political leadership for cage fighting.

The NYC assembly was supposed to be a marketplace of ideas. Instead, it became a festival of fists.

Political survival is now measured by one's ability to duck a flying chair while protecting the attendance register with the other hand.

Perhaps this is preparation for public office. Cabinet meetings in 2045 may require gum shields and metal helmets. Just in case the president throws a ceramic plate at his ministers.

Punching opponents after exhausting all constitutional remedies will become legal. Political debates will be preceded by weigh-ins. Questions in parliament will be answered with left hooks.

The tragedy, however, is that Namibia desperately needs young leaders. Not young strongmen.

Not young social media gladiators whose greatest political achievement is trending after flattening somebody over a procedural motion.

This generation was expected to build economic freedom, institutional credibility and ethical leadership. Instead, some appear determined to perfect the ancient art of televised nonsense.

Fortunately, not all young Namibians belong in this comedy.

Across the country are thousands quietly building businesses, studying, farming, coding, teaching, volunteering and solving actual problems without requiring riot police to conclude a meeting.

They deserve better ambassadors than those who confuse leadership with a heavyweight title bout.

Because if tomorrow's leaders cannot survive one weekend in a conference hall without exchanging punches, one has to wonder how they intend to govern a republic where the real opponents are unemployment, inequality, corruption and hopelessness.

Those bastards, unfortunately, don't stay down after one punch.