Junior Councillors Take Aim at Leadership

The second session of the Junior National Council (JNC) has taken aim at the current crop of leaders and their ability to solve issues such as unemployment, education and a teetering economy.

The point was introduced by a junior councilor from the Kunene region, Muhinda Likando, in the National Council (NC) last Thursday.

According to Likando, Namibian leaders are not doing enough to address the plights of the youth.

He charged that if Namibia had the right leaders in the right positions, it would not be difficult to solve problems in a country with just over two million people.

“This is no disrespect. It’s the truth. The people who say Namibia is a poor country are those who want to continue with corruption and eat money,” he claimed.

The Namibia University of Science and Technology student stressed that the time has arrived to put the right people in the right positions.

Responding to Likando was National Youth Council chairperson Mandela Kapere, who informed the house of review that the current leaders are doing their best to take the nation forward.

Namibians should be asking themselves how they can be part of the solution rather than just complain, he said.

Kapere also rubbished the insinuation from Likando that Namibia is a rich country and made clear that: “Namibia’s GDP per capita is not one of a wealthy country”.

As for whether or not Namibia had the right leaders in place, Kapere noted that there are democratic processes to elect leaders or to participate in leadership which are open to each citizen.

“If you are 21 years of age, you can also be part of that equation and make yourself available,” he said.

He continued: “But if you are 18, you can exercise your right to vote and determine who should be part of finding the solutions”.

The JNC will, among other things, discuss topical issues such as human trafficking and cyber-crime, youth participation in the national budgeting process and their involvement in extractive industry in a bid to enhance their economic and social development.

– Nampa