In recent weeks, a significant political development has captured the attention of Namibians: several young members who previously served in the rank and file, some having gone as far as becoming members of Parliament for the former official opposition party, have resigned and joined the ruling party. The question on everyone’s mind and, for those bold enough, on their lips is, why? Inevitably, the exodus invited various reactions ranging from surprise to cynicism and outright disappointment. Of course, for the ruling party, it means that lost ground is being recovered, as a return to its structures signifies a restoration of confidence in the party. Yet beyond the headlines and social media chatter lies a more complex story, one that reflects the interplay of leadership, opportunity and principles in Namibian youth politics.
It is quite simplistic to attempt to adequately encompass what has transpired through the lens of opportunism or personal gain, specifically for the reason that some of the youth who resigned from the former opposition political party had been members for as long as anyone can remember. Instead, it is important for us to analyse the structural and leadership deficiencies within opposition political parties coupled with the mounting impatience of an increasingly aware youth cohort.
Young politicians, in particular, are now acutely aware of the gap which exists between vision and execution. They enter into the political space with aspirations, ambition and a drive for transformative change for their nation and counterparts. When the leadership around them fails to provide direction, is not tried nor tested and often bases itself on theatrics for political attention, frustration follows, resulting in a migration to alternative platforms that seem better organised. Even if that means crossing party lines.
This mass resignation is indicative of a longstanding challenge that Namibia has faced with the quality of opposition parties it has. One, opposition political parties are often organised along ethnic lines as opposed to ideological unity, and secondly, in the bid for individual power struggles and main character syndrome that is characteristic of most opposition leaders, these parties are too fragmented to pose a formidable force. The individual power struggles have equally contributed to young people feeling undervalued and unseen due to a lack of space provided for them to express and execute innovative, youthful ideas. Without clear direction in terms of ideology, strategy and avenues for growth, disillusionment grows, and subsequently, young people just leave.
In such an environment, the ruling party provides a better space for participation, influence and even visibility, which are all desirable for young politicians, especially those who want to pursue careers in politics.
It is further worth noting that these resignations are symptomatic of broader social trends. In addition to the increasing political awareness of most young people in Namibia, there is an equivalent impatience with stagnation and inefficiency. If there is a demographic that screams business unusual right now in the country, it is the 71% of youth. Whether it is in governance, business, or civil society, young people are on edge. Hulle het nie tyd nie. Consequently, this impatience is amplified when encountered with leadership that is disorganised and incapable of delivering on promises. That is the one side. On the other hand, this impatience – is it perhaps a sign of youthful vigour that simply does not want to do the work to rise? Equally, an important question.
To further analyse the matter, the resignation exposes the fragile relationship between ideology and pragmatism in Namibia. It is a complex terrain to navigate for youth, where integrity and principles are weighed against practical considerations such as career progression, resource access and political survival. Moreover, the resignations certainly underscore the evolving expectations of youth participation in politics. The younger generation is not just seeking to hold titles (at least not for some anyway) but rather to leave a mark, to impact and touch lives. When political parties fail to provide pathways for substantive involvement and inclusion, there is a risk of alienating the very individuals who are meant to drive innovation and reform.
These resignations are therefore a cautionary tale: leadership failure is not merely an internal problem but a challenge with wider implications for democratic resilience and political credibility.
As I always say, everything rises or falls on leadership. So perhaps it is high time that the leadership of opposition political parties start to introspect on their calibre and style of leadership while improving on it before always blaming the ruling party for every misfortune they encounter.
