The Importance of Political Literacy and the Right to Vote

By: Ludorf Iyambo

As Namibia approaches the national elections in 2024, I have encountered numerous stakeholders working to enhance political education and literacy, particularly among young people.
This is a critical effort to inform and educate young people about the significance of politics.
In my observation and self-assessment, it appears that both young and older individuals lack a solid understanding of the role of voting and its impact on economic development.
As the elections draw nearer, questions naturally arise, such as: What is politics? What is the government’s function? How can one actively participate in this process?
These questions are entirely valid, as it is essential to encourage more young people to register and vote, thus ensuring their involvement in the decision-making process.
Namibia has around two million eligible voters, but in the previous presidential elections, only 1,358,468 cast their votes.
This discrepancy underscores the need to educate the population on the importance of choosing their leaders.