New junior council inaugurated at Keetmanshoop

The Keetmanshoop Municipality last week officially inaugurated its latest Junior Council, ushering in a new era for youth leadership at the southern town.

In her opening remarks, junior mayor Dezy Conradie said the Junior Council’s objective is to lead intentional generational change and represent young people across Keetmanshoop.

“As junior mayor, my areas of priority will be connecting young people to decision-makers, enabling girls and boys, addressing teen pregnancy, providing career guidance and improving class performance,” Conradie said.

Junior chief executive councillor Reece McNally also pointed out the necessity of youth engagement at local level, adding that teenage inclusion is about fairness and justice, rather than simply being represented.

“Young people’s involvement in government is not a privilege, it’s a need,” said McNally.

Keetmanshoop mayor Annelize Knaus congratulated the junior councillors on their appointments and guaranteed maximum support from their seniors.

“We are here to assist you, hear you and learn from you,” Knaus added.

Thirteen junior councillors were sworn in, selected from all five of Keetmanshoop’s high schools.

A junior mayor is a youth leader, most often a high school student elected to represent the youth in the town’s junior council.

Their mandate includes serving as spokespeople, initiating community and educational projects, supporting youth activities such as clean-up initiatives and developing leadership abilities among young people.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.