Stefanus Nashama
The leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Panduleni Itula,, has condemned the appointment of a student to parliament, describing it as abuse.
This comes after Swapo appointed 22-year-old university student, Fenny Tutjavi to its 2025-2029 National Assembly candidates list.
“To appoint a student to the incredibly high degree of political responsibility prior to acquiring the necessary tools, skills or expertise, let alone experience of deliberative skills required in such a political deliberative chamber, amounts to student abuse,” he said.
Itula said that allowing a student to have and accomplish dual excellence in the conduct of public affairs, whilst seeking academic excellence amounts to a selfish misguided satisfaction of public demand for youth representation.
He reasoned that the youngest appointment to parliament does not always indicate the most responsible political decision-making of a political leader.
Itula said the IPC would not abuse the students by sending them to parliament.
This, he said, would complicate their lives.
“We were all students and recognise the deficiencies in the conduct and reasoning of those who have not had such an opportunity. Student life is an important part of moulding a human being and is the best years of anyone politically aspiring young person,” he said.
According to Ithula, being thrown into the deep end of political deliberations too early, makes a student vulnerable to mental abuse, as the student’s priorities will have to shift to satisfy the appointing authority.
“That demand would be irresponsibly responded upon should one succumb to such without complying with the constitutionally set limitations,” he stressed.
He said the authority and responsibilities of political party leaders to appoint unelected political leaders are subject to limitations.
This, he said, would amount to irresponsible and careless leadership.
“The knowledge of the conduct of public affairs is rudimentary, to say the least, and subject only to their domestic interactions and environmental exposure,” he said.
Ithula said the appointment of young people will make Namibia the laughingstock of the world.
“We will be a laughing stock for delegating children to negotiate on behalf of our nation at international forums,” he said.
Political analysts also questioned Tutjavi’s appointment, suggesting that young people should be prepared for future leadership roles instead of pushing them into positions of authority before they are ready.
