Swanu Youth League's unedited statement as requested by The Namibian newspaper on the Presidential month of his birthday

By Simeon Tonata Angombe - Swanu Youth League President

First of all, let me take this opportunity and thank you, The Namibian newspaper, for creating this opportunity as a platform with the potential to get our voice heard at the highest office in the country through our various political youth movements. Let us hope that our views and opinions will be considered as youth growing into taking up much bigger political leadership responsibilities in the future.

1. What do you admire about President Pohamba?
Since the coming of His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba in the Presidential office, we have seen and felt Namibia becoming an influential nation in the global village, and we from the Swanu Youth League attribute this effect to the President’s personal charismatic character and brotherly, if not fatherly leadership. The President is very much into consultation with every stakeholder of government in political, economic and social well-fare – a hands-on type of leadership. This approach is actually motivating and pushing for action in the executive and other chambers of government, thus making Namibia a competitive nation moving at the same pace with the demands that comes with the globalised 21st century.

2. In your opinion, what are his shortcoming or disappointments?
In my socio-economic view, Comrade Pohamba is failing to listen, and attempt taking risks at practicing some progressive ideas brought forward by our Party leader Hon Maamberua when he proposes a Youth Fund for the unemployed University graduates who sits at home jobless. From the Youth Leagues’ side we have made several calls to the Ministry of Youth through their SME Loan Schemes and the Development Bank of Namibia in widening up the possibility of lending out more to young people aspiring to do business at less tight collateral requirements.
From the Social perspective, again we always advocate for the ‘government of today’ to intervene with the City of Windhoek, especially when we are facing a serious housing crisis of which I cited on my personal blog as a young politician: (http://tonataangombe.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-namibia-as-contemporary-son-of-soil.html).

Young people finds it hard to purchase houses in bigger towns like this one because of the ever sky-rocketing land value and house prices, while still the lowest paid civil servant has some ridiculously low housing scheme which cannot afford much.

Politically, as a realistic young politician I can acknowledge without fear or shame that the probability for Swapo to rule after the next elections slotted for 2014 is very high. My issue being that, the current manner in which the President is handling politics at his party level concerning his successor shows a lot of weakness in his ability to instil a sense of discipline in those that surrounds him.
Such a situation is a very good opportunity for the potential unpatriotic Namibians, who could be within his party, to start issues which might lead to national chaos like tribal wars as had happened in other African countries due to this kind of approach. As a progressive Political movement Swanu does not want this sort of thing to happen to our young democratic country all because of his inaction.
What is so special about the next leader and why can’t he allow those interested to start campaigning openly? This is clear of his weak political orientation and this sort of politics create unnecessary tension amongst people, especially when we live in a multi-racial/cultural society like our own.

3. If you were in a position to advise him on his leadership, what will you tell him?
As a patriotic Namibian, I listen to all voices that are for national interest and we as a youth league have identified a weakness in the presidents’ leadership skills to direct and manage the politics of his Predecessor Dr Sam Nujoma.

First, I would advise that Dr Pohamba makes it priority to talk to the founding Father to review his advisors because as a united Namibian youth we understand the literal meaning of the title (Founding Father) to be – Father of the nation and not of a certain institution or political belief. We want to see a situation where he would join us as Swanu Youth League upon invitation to celebrate events with us or respond to our invitations if he cannot make or so. We make this call because he is the Father for all the children, and not only some. I stand to be challenged by statement on this if I am politically wrong.

Secondly, Dr Pohamba must also advise the Founding President to hand over the Chancellorship of the University of Namibia to him as current Namibian leader as it is standard practice in contemporary politics.
I am making this call because most cynical people within the Namibian political landscapes questions as to why Dr Nujoma is still Chancellor, and eventually they end up labelling him as someone who loves power and prestige, which we believe is not the case for the kind of leader he is.

These advisors to our Founding Father are not doing their job in the above-mentioned regards, and the office of the Founding Father as a component of Dr Pohambas’ led government needs his attention, for the sake of the image of Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma as our much celebrated liberation icon whose political life has become a laughing stock for the unpatriotic Namibians who would want to shun his dignity. Thank you.