By: Tom Alweendo
Voting shapes the direction of a country’s future more than anything else. And the youth of Namibia holds the most voting power because they make up 70% of the population.
However, the majority of them aren’t motivated to take hold of this democratic right to shape their futures.
Here’s why the youth’s view around voting should change and how it’s more important than they think:
- The ballot is the great equaliser
The ballot stands as a powerful equaliser in the political process, particularly for the youth who may often feel sidelined or powerless against established political figures and institutions.
The voting booth operates on the principle of equality: every vote carries the same weight, regardless of the voter’s age, status, or political standing.
For young people, this means that their vote can effectively counterbalance the greater influence typically held by older generations and those already in power. This allows them to shape the policies that will define their future.
- Novel ideas and new ways of doing things to shape a country will come from the youth
Thanks to globalisation and access to information like never before, the youth in Namibia are uniquely positioned to shape their country’s future by offering fresh perspectives that challenge the status quo.
Their unique viewpoints can lead to innovative ideas that can create effective solutions for national development. And by using their voting power judiciously they can have these ideas represented in the political landscape.
- Voting reflects your interests and concerns
Young people often face unique challenges and have distinct goals from previous generations, making their input vital in shaping a political environment that responds to this.
When youth turn out in large numbers at the polls, they wield significant influence, prompting politicians and policymakers to take their views seriously.
This large-scale engagement ensures that the issues affecting them are not sidelined but are integral to policy discussions. By voting, the youth secure a stake in their own future, ensuring that the resulting policies foster an environment that aligns with their values.
Voting is a fundamental right, yet its real power lies in the youth voting with good judgement and sensibility.
Octavia Butler’s insight on choosing leaders underscores this: “Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool. To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen.”
By voting judiciously, the youth can steer clear of inadequate leaders and instead elect those who genuinely represent their values and aspirations.
Tom Alweendo is the Minister of Mines and Energy. The views expressed herein are his own.
