First Youth Parliament Can Be A Farce!

ACCORDING to the front-page article by Brigitte Weidlich in The Namibian of May 15 and other writers from other national newspapers, a historic debut has occurred in Namibia.

The first Parliament for Children! Since when does changing the name of an establishment that had its debut in 2004 already make it eligible to be reintroduced as yet another historical first for Namibia? Has everyone forgotten the historic inaugural of the supposed first Youth Parliament in the year 2004? I was appointed as Chairman of the First Youth Parliament in 2004 and I can bravely declare it as mere intangible propaganda. All this establishment did was to illustrate that there is a huge youth programme going on, when there was nothing in motion.After the ceremony ended in 2004, everyone went home.The work stopped there.I have all authority to say so, because I was disheartened when the words of even Toivo Ya Toivo seemed to have been mere flattery that turned into unmaterialised promises.Promises that we as the 26 representatives of our country, two selected from each of the 13 regions, would have the responsibility of shaping young society and getting acknowledged for it.Shaping in terms of having debates, seminars etc where we would be informed on how to give messages of hope and prosperity.We were promised recognition and compensation.That was if we were actively working to chisel our peers and make them assets of our land.As soon as I returned to the Hardap Region, I immediately started working on ideas.I drafted proposals, finalising no less than 30 proposals, for meetings to have effective communication with our fellow MPs but also to start small.I started organising debates at school on issues that face us as the youth.I spoke at international days, as the youth guest speaker.I performed poetry and wrote essays in order to show my young colleagues that we can really make this platform into the ultimate channel for the youth to rise and shine.But I needed assistance, I needed funds and affiliations with the Government.My pleas fell on more deaf ears.All the proposals I crafted could not be implemented without funding.We were promised funding and opportunities to liaise with the real National Council, and our communication could only go via a certain Ephrime Jane.All my proposals were answered with a sheepish, “We will attend to your request in due course”.I am still waiting for the 30 replies.It all seemed to be a depthless front.I was suspicious of the whole criteria from the beginning.I mean – I was elected Chairman of the Youth parliament in 2004, by young people who had met me four hours prior to the election.I think the only reason I got voted into the supposedly prestigious seat was because I said, “How do we know who to vote for? We don’t know each other.”I think that made the others think I was smart.When in fact it was only because I was talkative, not eloquent.And I think the length of my skirt had something to do with it as well.Mind you, I did not mind at that moment, because I wanted a way in, to give the youth way out of common problems.I was, as I am today, serious about shaping our community! I could not believe that this national implementation was nothing but a farce.So I wrote to the only contact at the council, Ephrime Jane, and stated that I thought the establishment is nothing but hocus-pocus! Within a week they communicated that I was to visit Finland, on a trip representing Namibia.I thought they had finally woken up.I thought they finally recognised a youth candidate willing and wanting to be part of the propellers, who wanted to stand as youth activists pulling the nation to progress.Alas, it was yet again another surge of sway, another misleading mentioning.After all preparation, it was communicated to me that the Government did not have funds to send me to Finland anymore.That was the last straw, so I resigned.They did not compensate me for one letter I sent to all the candidates over the period of the first year.They did not compensate me for all the phone calls I made to arrange meetings.They did not acknowledge one deed I had done.It was all done on my own, with my father’s money.I was in matric, as head girl of my school I was in a leading position to acquire an audience in the youth, and have them listen.But did I get one single ounce of support or backup from the either the adult Members of Parliament or the Youth Parliament? No! I heard nothing of my MP colleagues, because they did nothing.It was a farce! I can say that because I expected it to reach new dimensions in the youth of Namibia.But how could I pose as something, have no credentials and or backup, and be called Chairman of the debut Youth Parliament in Namibia? Now, three years later, they pull the same stunt, give it a different name, and dub it a historical breakthrough? Get your facts straight.And please don’t sing its praises yet.Unless these selected youth have something to show for their title, and if the official body assists them, rather than just having a ceremony and taking some pictures.Otherwise it will just be a media performance like the first one.I was verbally promised a position from 2004 until 2010, but got nothing on paper.I would suggest these youngsters sign for what has been promised and then start working.It is not about money, it is about assistance and status.And most of them are not fortunate to have parents who can assist them financially to recruit 25 other regional representatives just to have discussions and projects.The good I have done and the children I have inspired are due to my affiliation with ASSITEJ Namibia, an organisation for children’s theatre in Namibia.I have recited poetry, performed plays and worked with children.They thank me for caring.They say it is good that somebody listens.I hope this year the Parliament will recognise the value of a youngster as a communicator and shaper.And thus invest in the Parliament for Children.Otherwise it will just turn out to be another farce! Lize Kubersky Via e-mailAll this establishment did was to illustrate that there is a huge youth programme going on, when there was nothing in motion.After the ceremony ended in 2004, everyone went home.The work stopped there.I have all authority to say so, because I was disheartened when the words of even Toivo Ya Toivo seemed to have been mere flattery that turned into unmaterialised promises.Promises that we as the 26 representatives of our country, two selected from each of the 13 regions, would have the responsibility of shaping young society and getting acknowledged for it.Shaping in terms of having debates, seminars etc where we would be informed on how to give messages of hope and prosperity.We were promised recognition and compensation.That was if we were actively working to chisel our peers and make them assets of our land.As soon as I returned to the Hardap Region, I immediately started working on ideas.I drafted proposals, finalising no less than 30 proposals, for meetings to have effective communication with our fellow MPs but also to start small.I started organising debates at school on issues that face us as the youth.I spoke at international days, as the youth guest speaker.I performed poetry and wrote essays in order to show my young colleagues that we can really make this platform into the ultimate channel for the youth to rise and shine.But I needed assistance, I needed funds and affiliations with the Government.My pleas fell on more deaf ears.All the proposals I crafted could not be implemented without funding.We were promised funding and opportunities to liaise with the real National Council, and our communication could only go via a certain Ephrime Jane.All my proposals were answered with a sheepish, “We will attend to your request in due course”.I am still waiting for the 30 replies.It all seemed to be a depthless front.I was suspicious of the whole criteria from the beginning.I mean – I was elected Chairman of the Youth parliament in 2004, by young people who had met me four hours prior to the election.I think the only reason I got voted into the supposedly prestigious seat was because I said, “How do we know who to vote for? We don’t know each other.”I think that made the others think I was smart.When in fact it was only because I was talkative, not eloquent.And I think the length of my skirt had something to do with it as well.Mind you, I did not mind at that moment, because I wanted a way in, to give the youth way out of common problems.I was, as I am today, serious about shaping our community! I could not believe that this national implementation was nothing but a farce.So I wrote to the only contact at the council, Ephrime Jane, and stated that I thought the establishment is nothing but hocus-pocus! Within a week they communicated that I was to visit Finland, on a trip representing Namibia.I thought they had finally woken up.I thought they finally recognised a youth candidate willing and wanting to be part of the propellers, who wanted to stand as youth activists pulling the nation to progress.Alas, it was yet again another surge of sway, another misleading mentioning.After all preparation, it was communicated to me that the Government did not have funds to send me to Finland anymore.That was the last straw, so I resigned.They did not compensate me for one letter I sent to all the candidates over the period of the first year.They did not compensate me for all the phone calls I made to arrange meetings.They did not acknowledge one deed I had done.It was all done on my own, with my father’s money.I was in matric, as head girl of my school I was in a leading position to acquire an audience in the youth, and have them listen.But did I get one single ounce of support or backup from the either the adult Members of Parliament or the Youth Parliament? No! I heard nothing of my MP colleagues, because they did nothing.It was a farce! I can say that because I expected it to reach new dimensions in the youth of Namibia.But how could I pose as something, have no credentials and or backup, and be called Chairman of the debut Youth Parliament in Namibia? Now, three years later, they pull the same stunt, give it a different name, and dub it a historical breakthrough? Get your facts straight.And please don’t sing its praises yet.Unless these selected youth have something to show for their title, and if the official body assists them, rather than just having a ceremony and taking some pictures.Otherwise it will just be a media performance like the first one.I was verbally promised a position from 2004 until 2010, but got nothing on paper.I would suggest these youngsters sign for what has been promised and then start working.It is not about money, it is about assistance and status.And most of them are not fortunate to have parents who can assist them financially to recruit 25 other regional representatives just to have discussions and projects.The good I have done and the children I have inspired are due to my affiliation with ASSITEJ Namibia, an organisation for children’s theatre in Namibia.I have recited poetry, performed plays and worked with children.They thank me for caring.They say it is good that somebody listens.I hope this year the Parliament will recognise the value of a youngster as a communicator and shaper.And thus invest in the Parliament for Children.Otherwise it will just turn out to be another farce! Lize Kubersky Via e-mail