The Time For Change Is Now

PLEASE allow me a space in your newspaper to express my opinion on why we, the youth, should vote for change during this coming elections. I am 19 years old and all I have seen is my ‘sisters and brothers’ being condemned to the streets after they fail grade 10 and 12.

The majority of them are either working in bars, as maids or farmworkers or, worse, are botsotsos or prostitutes. I am sure we do not want to repeat the same mistakes our predecessors made by keeping one party in power for more than 20 years. I think Namibian youths deserve better. I have read the manifesto for RDP and it sounds very promising. Now it is high time that we give them the mandate to rule this country and if they do not deliver we must out vote them again. Gone are the days when only one party is in power. I live in a village and the situation here is now unbearable. Many of my fellows have failed and are still failing grade 10 or 12. You feel pity for some families. Their children only go to school up to grade 10. All of them are just failing. These children only end up taking all the dirty jobs, if there is something like that. I do not think these children are stupid. They just need a better education. Of course not all of us can succeed in the white-collar jobs but if vocational centres would be increased maybe some of us would be able to unfold our potential. I am really concerned about the future of my fellow youths. It always pains me when my fellow colleagues are crying for NDF or Police jobs. Of course we need these forces but they should be the last resort. Young people should aspire to become engineers, doctors, geologists, and only those who cannot succeed maybe, can go to NDF or the Police. We should aim at doing something with our own hands. So my fellow youths, if you want change, the time for change, is now. Let us be the master of our own destiny. I have never seen war in my life, but that chapter is closed forever. We need to move on. We need leaders with fresh ideas. Colonialism, as many leaders used to tell us, is no longer relevant to us. We understand how history is important but it should not be used at the expense of the masses. My parents used to tell me about the liberation struggle. I used to tell them those were their duties and responsibilities then and now that we are free we must just see how best we can develop this nation. I am lucky because my parents understand education and politics. They are really doing a lot for me. But how many of us are lucky like that? I do not want to bore you with my own story but what I want you to do is to critically think about how we as young people have been living under the current government. Are there really opportunities for us? Is this education system really serving us? Think about our own future and let us vote for change. I am challenging all the youths to stand and vote for the party that can bring change and not to vote for history. It is only us who can determine our own destiny; after all we are the future leaders of tomorrow. So why don’t we start now. Hey my fellow youths, go and register. Your vote counts!Sem Uutoni Omusati Region