Children’s parliament

Mariselle Stofberg
Holy Uaetuihe

Holy Uaetuihe was a part of the 5th session of the Children’s Parliament, which is an initiative that was implemented in Namibia by the honourable speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjivivi, in honour of Baba.

This is an attempt, which is a very successful one, to involve the youth in the law making process, by making them aware of the procedures used when making laws. Members are from all 14 regions, seven from each, bringing up a total of 98.

The members are there to serve as a mouth-piece of the children they are representing from their region, making know the problems that are currently being faced by the youth. These problems are made into motions, which are to be seconded, tabled to the speaker, motivated and then discussed.

If the motion has been exhausted, or there is division in the house, a vote is called and majority wins. The Children’s Parliament has provided, and still continues to do so, a platform on which we can lobby for the government to prioritise the issues faced by the youth, but the answers do not lay within the government seldom.

“We are taught not only to rely on the government for everything, if we are capable of fixing it ourselves we should not need to involve the government. This event has made us into a support group for one another, people to which we can look to for advice and lean on should one be in need,” said Uaetuihe.