EDITORIAL
The National Youth Council (NYC) was established to represent young Namibians and promote their participation in national development. It was meant to be an independent body that brings young people together, regardless of their political affiliations, backgrounds or economic circumstances.
Instead, it has become a battleground for political factions, with leadership disputes taking priority over the needs of young people. Political interference, poor governance and a lack of accountability have weakened an institution that should be helping to address youth unemployment, skills shortages and other challenges facing young Namibians.
Young people are paying the price for this failure.
Political parties have increasingly treated NYC as an extension of their youth wings rather than an independent institution serving the wider youth population. Leadership contests have become opportunities to settle political scores and secure positions for loyalists, instead of choosing people with the skills and experience to run the council.
When political connections matter more than competence, institutions suffer. NYC is a case in point. Its continued leadership crisis has undermined its credibility and ability to fulfil its mandate.
The chaos at the third General Assembly in Swakopmund from 19 to 21 June 2026 exposed the depth of the problem. What should have been a democratic process to elect a new executive chairperson and board descended into disorder. The gathering was marred by physical altercations, allegations of voter roll tampering and the resignation of the electoral committee over safety concerns.
An estimated N$2 million in public funds was spent on a gathering that failed to deliver a new leadership structure. The continued delay in resolving the dispute and holding a proper election only adds to the waste.
This is unacceptable in a country where many young people struggle to find jobs, pay tuition fees and meet their basic needs. Public money should be used to improve their lives, not to finance political battles that leave institutions paralysed.
The problems at the NYC go beyond its failed elections. For five consecutive years, the council has reportedly failed to produce transparent financial results. This raises serious questions about financial management, accountability and the use of public funds.
An institution receiving public money must account for every dollar it spends. The government cannot expect accountability from others while allowing an organisation under its supervision to operate without proper financial transparency.
The failure to produce financial results also undermines confidence in the council’s leadership. Young people aspiring to positions of national responsibility should be expected to demonstrate integrity, competence and sound management. The NYC should be setting that example, not becoming a warning of what happens when accountability breaks down.
The government, particularly the ministry responsible for youth affairs, must also answer for this situation. It cannot continue to watch the council deteriorate without taking meaningful steps to restore order, ensure financial accountability and establish functional leadership.
The ministry’s failure to secure a lasting solution raises serious questions about its commitment to proper oversight. An institution entrusted with public funds and a national youth mandate cannot be allowed to remain in prolonged leadership and operational limbo.
The NYC also needs to reconsider how its leaders are selected. The current system of politically charged general assemblies has clearly failed to deliver stability. However, simply replacing elections with appointments would not automatically solve the problem. Any reform must protect the council’s independence and ensure that its leaders are chosen through a transparent, credible process based on competence and integrity.
Leadership candidates should be assessed on their ability to manage finances, develop policy, plan strategically and deliver measurable results. Political loyalty must not be the deciding factor.
The objective should be to build an institution that serves young people rather than political careerists seeking positions as stepping stones to higher office.
The stakes are too high for the government and political parties to continue treating NYC as a political prize. Namibia’s young people need an organisation that can represent their interests, influence policy and help address unemployment and economic exclusion.
The council belongs to the youth of Namibia, not to political parties or the factions fighting for control of it.
The ministry must act, political interference must end, and financial accountability must become non-negotiable. Until that happens, NYC risks becoming irrelevant to the very people it was established to serve.
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