Ester Mbathera
Fenny Tutjavi, at just 22 years old, who hails from the Erongo Region, was one of the youngest candidates under the leadership of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and made history this week by being elected to the Swapo Party’s parliamentary list.
Her inclusion on the list came during the Swapo Party’s electoral college on Monday, where she was named among 10 appointees by the party’s vice president.
Despite the high expectations that come with parliamentary duties, she is determined to balance her new political role with her academic goals.
“I am going to commit to my study. Because, as a young person, it’s very important to have academic merit,” she said.
Tutjavi, who is a 3rd year student in public management, international relations, and politics, acknowledges the weight of her new responsibilities, but she remains committed to her studies.
“I’m going to commit to my parliamentary commitment. I’m going to commit to my studies to ensure that I’m able to make meaningful contributions to the discord that is taking place,” she said.
Tutjavi added that her commitment to education will not overshadow her political mission.
She said her agenda is clear and that is to represent the youth of Namibia, who, according to her, face challenges like unemployment, education, and economic opportunity.
“My agenda is very clear. I’m a young person, and my main agenda remains representing my constituents, which are the young people. When the vice president and presidential candidate appointed me as a candidate for Swapo, she saw my potential to represent fellow young people,” she said.
She sees her appointment as an opportunity to advocate for real change and serve as a voice for the younger generation.
“The young people of this country are faced with so many challenges. And I think I shall serve as a beacon of representation of those challenges and be able to address them to an extent of great magnitude,” she said.
Tutjavi has already gained political experience in various roles within Swapo’s structures, including the Pioneers movement, the Unam political science society, where she served as treasurer general, and the Swapo Youth League at Unam.
She is currently the student representative council general secretary at Unam main campus, as well as the secretary general of the African Youth Adolescents network for the Namibian chapter.
