Educated politicians are essential, expert says
Editor of Namibia Fact Check Frederico Links says it is high time for an academic prerequisite to be established for aspiring politicians to hold office.
He also urged political parties to encourage aspiring leaders to invest in furthering their education.
Links made these comments last week in an interview with Namibian Sun, where he explained that the world has evolved beyond leaders who can simply read and write – office-bearers should be able to comprehend complex development issues, he said.
“I do think there needs to be some sort of minimum academic qualification or sort of level that a politician should have. Because governance is a complex matter, whether it's at the local, regional or national level. I mean, there should really be a minimum qualification level when it comes to this,” Links said.
Among the topics politicians are tasked with deciding on are budgets and development issues at local, regional and national levels.
“You can't have people like that in this day and age sitting in decision-making positions and policy-making positions where the decisions are becoming more complex and complicated. The way of doing things is becoming more complex and complicated," Links explained.
“So you really need people who have a level of education, a level of experience and a level of exposure that would make them an asset, a governance asset. I do think that there needs to be some minimum level, whether it's a graduate degree or something.”
Strong team needed
Links made his remarks shortly after Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, during the party’s central committee meeting, urged members to focus on selecting capable leaders ahead of this year’s local and regional government elections.
“It is very important and critical that we must prepare properly and aggressively for this year’s elections. This election matters a lot to us because they will determine who will be at the forefront of service delivery in our communities,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
“The leaders we are going to field for elections at the regional and local levels are the ones who will implement our policies and programmes on the ground, ensuring that the promises made in the Swapo Party election manifesto are fully realised," she said.
“That is why we must focus on selecting capable, committed and visionary leaders who understand the needs of the people and who will work tirelessly to improve their lives.”
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He also urged political parties to encourage aspiring leaders to invest in furthering their education.
Links made these comments last week in an interview with Namibian Sun, where he explained that the world has evolved beyond leaders who can simply read and write – office-bearers should be able to comprehend complex development issues, he said.
“I do think there needs to be some sort of minimum academic qualification or sort of level that a politician should have. Because governance is a complex matter, whether it's at the local, regional or national level. I mean, there should really be a minimum qualification level when it comes to this,” Links said.
Among the topics politicians are tasked with deciding on are budgets and development issues at local, regional and national levels.
“You can't have people like that in this day and age sitting in decision-making positions and policy-making positions where the decisions are becoming more complex and complicated. The way of doing things is becoming more complex and complicated," Links explained.
“So you really need people who have a level of education, a level of experience and a level of exposure that would make them an asset, a governance asset. I do think that there needs to be some minimum level, whether it's a graduate degree or something.”
Strong team needed
Links made his remarks shortly after Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, during the party’s central committee meeting, urged members to focus on selecting capable leaders ahead of this year’s local and regional government elections.
“It is very important and critical that we must prepare properly and aggressively for this year’s elections. This election matters a lot to us because they will determine who will be at the forefront of service delivery in our communities,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
“The leaders we are going to field for elections at the regional and local levels are the ones who will implement our policies and programmes on the ground, ensuring that the promises made in the Swapo Party election manifesto are fully realised," she said.
“That is why we must focus on selecting capable, committed and visionary leaders who understand the needs of the people and who will work tirelessly to improve their lives.”
[email protected]
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