Voice of the youth to the President Panduleni F. B. Itula

Space Summary

The Twitter Space Voice of the youth to the President Panduleni F. B. Itula hosted by christ_lao_. The Twitter Space focused on the youth's voice with President Itula highlighted the importance of youth engagement, education, entrepreneurship, advocacy, leadership, and patriotism. Discussions revolved around empowering young individuals through mentorship, skills development, effective communication strategies, and promoting national pride. Youth ambassadors were recognized as key contributors to societal progress, and the session emphasized the qualities required for developing capable youth leaders.

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Space Statistics

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Questions

Q: Why is youth involvement crucial for policy formulation?
A: Engaging youth ensures that policies reflect the needs and aspirations of younger generations.

Q: How does education empower the youth to drive change?
A: Education equips young individuals with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and contribute positively to society.

Q: What role does entrepreneurship play in fostering innovation?
A: Entrepreneurship enables young people to create solutions, drive economic growth, and innovate in various sectors.

Q: Why is advocacy important in initiating societal transformations?
A: Advocacy raises awareness, mobilizes support, and drives change towards societal improvement.

Q: How can mentorship benefit young talents in their development?
A: Mentorship offers guidance, support, and valuable insights to help young individuals navigate their career paths.

Q: What are the benefits of skills development for community growth?
A: Enhancing skills among the youth contributes to a more skilled workforce, economic empowerment, and overall community progress.

Q: How does marketing and brand management aid in effective communication with the youth?
A: Strategic marketing and brand management help create engaging messages to connect and resonate with the younger audience.

Q: Why is fostering patriotism important among the youth?
A: Promoting patriotism instills a sense of belonging, national pride, and civic responsibility among the younger generation.

Q: How can youth ambassadors contribute to societal progress?
A: Youth ambassadors serve as advocates, role models, and catalysts for positive change in their communities.

Q: What qualities are essential for developing capable youth leaders?
A: Leadership qualities like responsibility, empathy, vision, and communication skills are crucial for grooming effective youth leaders.

Highlights

Time: 00:15:42
Youth Advocacy and Policy Influence Discussing the impact of youth voices on policy-making and societal change.

Time: 00:28:09
Empowering the Youth through Education Exploring the transformative power of education in empowering young individuals.

Time: 00:35:56
Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Innovation Highlighting how entrepreneurship fosters innovation and economic development among the youth.

Time: 00:49:18
Importance of Mentorship for Youth Development Emphasizing the role of mentorship in guiding and nurturing young talents.

Time: 01:05:31
Youth Patriotism and National Pride Promoting patriotism among the youth to instill a sense of national identity and belonging.

Time: 01:20:44
Leadership Development for Youth Exploring the importance of leadership skills in grooming capable and responsible youth leaders.

Time: 01:35:12
Effective Communication Strategies with the Youth Discussing marketing and brand management techniques for better youth engagement.

Time: 01:45:29
Youth Skills Development for Community Progress Highlighting the significance of skill development in contributing to community growth and prosperity.

Time: 01:55:17
Youth Ambassadors: Agents of Change Exploring the impact of youth ambassadors in driving positive societal transformations.

Time: 02:10:50
Advocacy for Youth Empowerment Advocating for youth empowerment through various initiatives and awareness campaigns.

Key Takeaways

• Youth involvement in shaping policies is crucial for a better future.
• Education plays a significant role in empowering the youth and driving change.
• Entrepreneurship offers opportunities for economic growth and innovation among young individuals.
• Advocacy and awareness are essential tools for initiating positive societal transformations.
• Leadership development is vital in fostering capable and responsible youth leaders.
• Engagement with youth ambassadors can lead to impactful collaborations for societal progress.
• The session underscores the importance of mentorship in guiding young talents.
• Youth empowerment through skills development contributes to sustainable community development.
• Discussing marketing and brand management provides insights into effective youth communication strategies.
• Encouraging patriotism among the youth can instill a sense of national pride and responsibility.

Behind the Mic

Introduction and Greetings

Hi, Martin. Welcome. It. Am I audible? Yes, Lau, I can hear you. Okay, great. I was just testing because. No problem. And. Good evening. Good evening. How are you, honorable? Very fine. Patriot. Are you recruiting that side? Are you working that side? I'm in the field as we speak. We are in Gwena region. Okay, wonderful. And I see CP is here. Okay. I think I would have to mute you and ask CP to speak. Okay. Good evening, CP. Welcome. Hello. Good evening. I've just arrived, so that's perfectly fine.

Recap of Last Week's Session

Thank you. Okay. Wonderful. It's great to have you. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to week three of faith electorate. We are excited to continue with these important discussions. And before we jump into today's topic, let's quickly recap on last week's session while we wait for everyone. Last week, we focused on hearing the youth's concerns on various issues. And Doctor Itula listened to the youth as they shared their personal challenges, from unemployment to frustrations about the governance. We also discussed the importance of voting, and Doctor Itula shared some personal stories about his journey. Tonight, we'll focus on the topic that touches every young Namibian, which is education and skills for the future.

Introduction to Doctor Itula's Journey

But before we dive in, we'll start with some icebreaker questions to get to know Doctor Itola's journey a little better. Mister President, last week we learned about your childhood growing up in Venduk and your school journey. Well, we also understand that you were imprisoned during the apartheid era, a time of immense struggle and resistance. Mister President, can you please tell us more about what led to that? Or maybe we should give it. Because I see 19 people joined. Maybe we should wait for about 30 people. And then CP can tell us about what led to that, and how the experience impacted you personally, and what lessons you took from that period.

Waiting for More Participants

Is it fine with everyone if we wait for ten more people? Ottilia, since you are the only one that can speak, I think you can speak on behalf of everyone. You can answer on behalf of everyone. Yeah, I have no objection. I think it's okay. And I just want to add on something because I don't want to speak after the president. It's just an emphasis to my fellow youth that. Okay. We should not just come on the platform as listeners, or just to pose our question on what plans does Doctor Itula have for this country. But as young people also, we must come here to listen, think and absorb on how we can perhaps meet Doctor Itula halfway on his road to 20, to the 27 November 2024.

Youth Engagement and Expectations

Because what is doing? No, it can tell already that Doctor Itula is a good leader that Namibia need. But now, as the nation, what are we doing to meet him halfway in winning election come November? I so submit. Oh, wonderful. That's profound, councilor. Thank you for that. And if you have any advice to the youth or something, anything else that you want to tell the youth, you can talk to them. We wait for other people to join the space. No, since I came here to listen. I think that's enough for now. Lao. Thank you. You can mute me, please. Yeah, sure.

Waiting for More Participants II

We are just waiting for more people to join. I see. We are 24 now. Someone is requesting to speak. Okay, Ottilie, I see you requested to speak, or was that by mistake? I can hear you very well. I see you requested to speak. Was it by mistake or would you like to say something? No, no. I guess it's just a mistake. Okay, thank you. So, while we wait for others to join, I think we can think deep about what councilor Otile has just said. What are we doing to meet CP halfway?

Discussion on Leadership and Plans

Of course, CP got all these beautiful plans for Namibia. Realistic plans for Namibia. But what are we doing to make sure that CP actually become the president of Namibia to implement this eseephe? I see. We are 30 now, and CP has just joined as a speaker. Mister President, are you there? I am here, but I'm still on as a listener. Now I'm a speaker. Okay, that's fine. And I'm mute. Okay, now that's fine. Thank you so much for joining us, Cpenna. We really appreciate it. Like you took time out of your busy campaigning schedule to be with us here tonight.

The Importance of Electoral Participation

We appreciate it so much. And the floor is yours. Welcome. We are ready to listen to you and engage with you and ask our questions. Hello. Hello. Good evening, everyone. And I'm quite sure you were having a wonderful weekend. I'm sorry if my voice is a little bit crowded. I've just arrived literally 20 minutes ago, after quite a heavy week of speaking as well. And I'm looking forward to be hearing from each and every one of you. And before perhaps I do that, I also attended an event that was organized by the church on Friday, just before I left to the coast to go to attend another event in Hantus Bay.

Summary of Campaign Events

And Swakov and I, which were quite informative and engaged with quite a lot of people, and it was to deliver the manifesto to the public. And these events will take place in some of the public places in halls, etcetera, to be able to give the public as much opportunity as possible to understand not only why they need to vote as citizens, but also why they need to vote IPC, and why they need to vote. Doctor Itula. At the same time, it's quite important for us to understand the provisions of the law in order for us not to feel aggrieved by some happenings or some conditions or any provisions of the law that you don't understand.

Engagement with the Youth

So it's important as young people, to be able to understand what exactly the electoral process is. Every one of us, as citizens, have got an obligation to participate in the political space, to be able to have your voice heard, and also to contribute to the manner in which our country is governed, and to contribute in deciding who shall be our leader, and also which political party it is that will be given the mandate to provide for their policies. And in IPC, we believe that the manifesto is a social contract between the electorate and the political party.

The Importance of Progress in Education

Why do our students not progress? There is something that I am absolutely feminine about that we need to be able to impart upon our trainees reasoning skills and skills that will be able to propel them into thinking further. And not just think about copy and paste. Copy and paste is so much, but innovative and creative thinking is lacking in some of our students. And not to say all of them, but some of our students. And we need to assist them. And government need to be able to put a lot of money into education. We are already putting a lot of money into education compared to other countries, much more, only less than our South Africa in Losoto is doing. So those are some of the things that we need to do.

Future Skills and Technology Integration

But the world is moving on and we need to make sure that we've got some form of future skills. We are talking about artificial intelligence, we are talking about robotics and all the Internet of things and everything else that is now out there. And young people are much more exposed to it than some of us. But those are things that some of our experts that we'll be putting in government to deal with these issues, rather than a political leader such as myself. To be able to give the government an opportunity, and our students and our young people an opportunity, to be able to actually access this information, to be able to be sent outside almost to so called Silicon valleys, to be pollinated and come back with that information, to be able to assist economic and socioeconomic development in our country.

Open Discussion for Ideas

So that is a kind of taster, to allow a discussion to flourish. And I will be quite happy for people to add and to subtract. Let me have a discussion. Let me hear you. Let me listen to you. You know, I'm not an expert in education. You know, I used to be a lecturer in the UK, teaching dentists, etcetera. But lecturing is slightly different from teaching. It's not the same thing. You are basically giving information to people who are able to digest and build on themselves. So that also I was an examiner as well in various of the universities in the UK, London, Guy's hospital, and Liverpool and Glasgow as well. Skills that I no longer need, but I need to develop a lot of skills in listening.

Youth Engagement and Addressing Their Concerns

And that's why I give this platform to our youth to be able to share with me their pains, to share with me their ideas. Because after all, it's for you, it's not for me. I'm only guiding it through. Thank you very much host, and you may open up the discussion to the platform and I will hope that everyone will be able to actually have a statement. Thank you very much. Wow. Thank you very much Mister president, for that I think. Without further ado, let's open up the floor for questions. As usual, each participant will be given 1 minute to ask their questions or share their thoughts. If you would like to ask, kindly indicate, and then I'll give you an opportunity to speak.

Educational Funding and Parents' Role

Okay, CP? If I read out the questions in the comment section while we wait for people to indicate that they want to ask. Okay, no, that will be perfectly in order, host, you can proceed with the questions that are on the people have sent in. Okay, CP, this one is not about education, but it's not about the education. It says, given the pressing need to enhance our country's capacity in critical sectors such as energy and agriculture, what is IPC's stance on the strategic integration of skilled immigrants to work alongside and mender local professionals? Mister President.

The Role of Energy in Economic Development

Well, energy is central to every socioeconomic development. We cannot develop a country without a reliable, sufficient energy. Energy source. Our energy source that we've got nampower in Winduk was established in 1970. I was still at mandume school, at lower primary school as Elena. And then we've got our Rakana power station, hydro as well. And also were talking about the bends. That hasn't been established as yet. Our energy source. We get our energy from South Africa, 40% we are okay, but 60% comes from South Africa, of which 40% is South Africa, 10% Zimbabwe, and 10% roughly is from Zambia. We consider within our manifesto that provision of energy is central to ensuring that we develop our secondary sector where manufacturing has to take place.

Introducing Renewable Energy Sources

Even our mines has got a difficulty actually sourcing electricity. And if we have got that big industry along the coast there, it is critically important that we think about energy source. Now there is of course, a lot of renewable energy. And everybody is going up on green hydrogen. And we also have to think about gray hydrogen. And gray hydrogen is where you've got your gas extracting energy. All energy almost comes from hydrogen. It's just a question of the source of hydrogen. You've got your brown hydrogen, as it were, which is your coal, and you've got your pink hydrogen, which is basically your nuclear power stations. There are countries in this world that are relying a lot on nuclear power station.

Balancing Energy Needs and Food Security

Of course, there was that risk of Chernobyl in the Ukraine that took place in the eighties, that scared everybody about the usage of nuclear energy. Of course, the anti nuclear lobby has had a contribution to that. And we need to understand that the demand for green hydrogen at the moment is not within Namibia. And if you were to ask me to choose between feeding 800,000 thousand Namibians who are hungry, and then investing taxpayers money in green hydrogen, I would probably choose the former feeding our people. But at the same time, we need to support some of the innovative ideas, such as those of combining hydrogen and nitrogen to form ammonia, that is there to propel trucks to transport our commodities around into the interior of Africa.

Exploring Nuclear Energy Potential

But we need to think very seriously, given that we've got the raw material of even creating a simulation where we enrich our uranium. I spent 3 hours in the mine of Swakop uranium, looking at all the processes and looking at all. All the mining activities. And having gone in, there is a tendency to think that all this uranium is going to China. All the uranium that is extracted from Namibia actually go to the international market. And it's where it's traded as it leaves our shores. Of course, there is export duties to be paid, but we should be able to think about having our own nuclear power station as a source.

Educating Future Generations of Scientists

Now, we may not have the necessary scientists, but we need to also think about our academic institutions to link up with other institutions around the world, so that we can actually get our students and our scientists to link up with those universities so that they can gain knowledge. A lot of universities, all of the universities, almost nasty and unanimous in Namibia, have linked up with clean energy in the manufacturing of ammonium, for propelling trucks that transport commodities around. And they even have got a service station to fill these trucks. We probably saw his Excellency, Doctor Nangolo Mbomba, with the Royal Highness the king of Belgium, in recent news, at a station where the ammonium is to be produced, where the baseload initially comes from, solar energy.

Harnessing Natural Resources Efficiently

And the baseload is basically what splits through a hydrolysis process the hydrogen from the water. All these raw materials are within the media and we've got the brilliant sunshine to give maximal operations of this company. Of course, our young brains and scientists should be able to be linked to some of these. But because we said we are lowering the interest rates, or rather the corporate tax, it means that a lot of companies will be able to come and invest in Namibia and harness the human resources from art scientists in Namibia to be able to educate our people and eventually skills transfer and eventually enriching ourselves as a nation with scientists that are going to fit into our secondary sector and producing our commodities.

Economic Development through Energy Sector Solutions

So energy is central to socio economic development and IPCs make provisions there to rebuild all the regional distributors and transmitters under one single entity and at the same time to seek for the production of alternative energy and in so doing, reducing the tariffs of energy. At the moment, our tariffs are directly linked to the tariffs in South Africa and the tariffs through which the Zimbabweans and the Zambians sell their electricity to us. And as it comes here, as it's divided in various of the rates, they also put up their markup. And this is causing the consumer to pay more for something that we could actually create. And within a short period of time, probably of ten to 15 years, we should be able to do that.

International Collaboration for Nuclear Energy

There are countries that are ready to come into Namibia and set up nuclear power station in this country safely, reliably and train our scientists to be able to maintain this. So we are looking at that and we will be putting it in within the first year to make sure that project will take off really quickly so that we can then power our secondary sector and employ more people. Because once we open up our secondary sector, it will create more jobs, it will create more pay as you add more personal taxes so that our revenue coffers start getting high, so that we are having a enough money to be able to actually build our schools, hospitals and provide our infrastructure.

Engaging the Audience in Discussion

Thank you. Thank you, Sifi, for answering that. I see someone is requesting to speak. Joshua, you may please go ahead and ask your question. Thank you. Or a contribution. Joshua, good evening and welcome. I cannot quite hear you. I think your line is breaking. Just walking him. Yeah, I think Joshua's connection is a little bit tricky. Yeah, I will just go ahead and read out questions in the comment section. Okay. Okay, I'm listening. You may proceed with your question. I think Yoshiwa is just having a crack.

Question on Education Funding

Allow him to reconnect. Joshua, sorry about that. I just moved to SSP because your line was. Okay, proceed with the questions on the. Yes, thank you. Someone is asking to ask. You may go ahead and ask. Good evening. Christ. Good evening, CB. Hello. Good evening. Yeah, I have a question pertaining to the education. I understand the idea started with the late Abraham Yambo. So my question is it really fair to make parents contribute to the school's development? Because now a lot of the schools are now free.

Free Education and Its Implications

Parents don't pay school fees anymore. What they do is contribute either by buying books or fence, like a lot of schools are doing now. Should we then make education completely free where the parents don't have to keep in anything which will, in my opinion, deplete the fiscus of government? Or should we then make education affordable where parents have to chipping an affordable rate to say that this amount should be enough to help develop the school and you know, just make education accessible? And that's my question.

Monetary Policy and Economic Strategies

Sipi, should we take one more question or. Okay, if you've got someone. If you've got someone, you could do that. Okay, CP. Hans. Good evening and welcome. May you please go ahead and ask. Well, thank you for the opportunity. I think there is a mic making some noise somewhere in the background. I'm not so sure. Okay. Like, even, my question is with respect to monetary policy, basically, because I know the topic is actually education related, but I wanted to ask, like, I heard talk to YouTube in the past, say something in the line of, well, right now is not the time for nanopia to actually deepak the dollar from the south african land.

Understanding Currency and Trade Reserves

And I just wanted to test that real quick. And that is basically Namapia has time and again have sufficient reserves, you know, foreign reserves in order to sort of maintain each and every time. In fact, recently in the past, it used to be about four months of reserves in order to maintain the pack and make foreign payments like imports and stuff. But as of late, it actually increased in terms of its span to like about five months in the future that it could actually be able to do that. So generally, Namibia has never had a problem with foreign reserves.

Exploring Economic Independence

So if Namopia has to deepen the south african land, it is in a position in order to maintain the integrity of currency. So why shouldn't Namia be in a position to actually Deepak? Because in times of economic decline, one of the tools that could be made useful in order to boost the economy's monetary. The monetary tools, basically the monetary system policy. But then we don't have that ability since we are not a monetary sovereign consciousness. So even though we do have trade deficit, we do maintain a good amount of reserves, so we should be in a position to defect if we choose to.

Linking Currency Policy to Economic Health

In my personal view. Just one? Yes. You actually said it's your own. Sorry, House, you said it's your own personal view. What evidence level do you have to substantiate your personal view that delinking the namibian dollar from the south african rent a is feasible economically and in terms of monetary policy as well? I'm going to deal with your question, but I wanted to know whether you've got an evidence based rather than your personal view. We are all entitled to our views. It's perfectly fine.

Consequences of Delinking Currency

But in a situation where you must make a decision that affects the lives of people, one has to be able to be guided by some form of evidence in order to actually make that decision. Now, the namibian dollar is not the only currency in the world that is linked to another currency. And people need to understand, why do you link a currency to another currency, especially one that has got a much stronger GDP? If you were to dealing the namibian dollar from the south african rent, you need to be conscious that we import 80% of our food from South Africa at the moment.

Imports and Economic Stability

We import and pay for them on a one to one. So if a loaf of bread is costing 13 rents in South Africa, we will be importing it at $13 in Namibia. But one of the most important thing to link a currency is to allow for stability in your economy, because currencies in the world fluctuate a lot, and they fluctuate on even a political statement can cause the GSE, the Johannes stock exchange to fluctuate. And so if you go to the Caribbean, all the Caribbean, almost all the currencies in the Caribbean are linked to the american dollar.

Economic Indicators and Currency Stability

I have given two scenarios in which Namibia will be safely, and I'm not an economist or a financial advisor, but I believe that to be sound, and it's based on careful research of the consequences. If we're dealing from the south african dollar, it means that we have to use foreign currency, such as the british pound. And I'm saying british pound, actually, I mean english pound, as opposed to the british pound, and then the euro, or the american dollar and all the chinese one. Now, in order for us to earn foreign currency in Namibia and to have a good reserve, we need to be a net exporter of commodities, selling our commodities to other countries, and they will buy them using foreign currency, and that is either the american dollar, or the british pound, or the english pound.

Challenges of Being a Net Importer

They will not be able to buy it in any other currency. And that's how we accumulate. Our foreign reserve is by trading. But Namibia at the moment is a net importer. We don't produce many of the commodities that we consume in Namibia. So the moment we delink from the south african rent here, we will be able to deplete our bank of Namibia foreign currency reserves. Because we'll have now to trade with South Africa with those foreign currency. And the reason why we are still okay with our foreign currency is because we use our foreign currency only when we trade with other countries, such as medicine from India or any other european countries.

The Effects of Currency Trade Changes

And that is the one that balances us out. But the moment we go all out to trade with South Africa in foreign currencies as well, you'll find that our reserves will be depleted. And we've got a big problem here in terms of monetary policy. Our monetary policy is dictated in South Africa. When the repo rate in South Africa goes, we tighten our belt and then clench our teeth and say, shall we increase our repo rate? Because when we increase our repo rate, the interest rates in the banks, that is, the rate at which the banks borrow money from the central bank, increases.

Understanding Interest Rate Implications

And if you have got a mortgage, or if you bought a car or a personal loan with a bank, then that interest rate goes up as well. There is no harmony between, at the moment, our monetary policy and our fiscal policy. And therefore, rate goes up, our fiscal policy remains the same. Our value added tax and pay as you earn. And all these taxes remains the same. And therefore, if you are on a 2000 namibian dollar salary and you were paying 500 to your car, that you have taken a loan from the bank. When the monetary policy is adjusted in terms of the repo rate and goes up with the interest rate in the bank, you will have to pay perhaps $700 to your loan, but your salary remains the same.

Legislative Measures for Resource Management

So if we, for example, are good enough, and IPC has proposed four laws in terms of the oil and gas discovery, so that we can protect its management and that there is a regulatory authority and that there is a local, including the management of the revenue. We have got a legal framework that protects that resource. And we become a net exporter and develop our petrochemical industry from the oil discovery and develop our kutu gas, so that we've got the gray energy, hydrogen, as it were, to export.

Working Towards Energy Independence

And become a net exporter of energy. In terms of giving energy, electricity to South Africa and our neighboring countries. The moment we become a net exporter of these commodities, we will be able to actually say, right, we can stand on our own. If you look at the Botuan and Pula, they were able to do that because early in the seventies, they passed laws that protect their natural resources, and they are getting much revenue from their natural resources compared to what we are getting.

Negotiating Natural Resource Management

And I think that we can renegotiate the deals that we have in the management of our natural resources to be able to actually get more into our revenue. And once we've got more and we have got an export of our. Our resources and then become a net exporter, then that is a situation, in the basis of my substantiation from various research documentations, that we can then reliably say, yes, we can severe the relationship. Now, that relationship is called the common monetary area.

Examining Currency Linkage Challenges

Although it's called common monetary area, it's actually a one way street. Because if you were to think about the situation in Scotland and England, or the situation in Germany and France, you are able to actually move the labor force around these countries that are sharing a common currency, such as France and Germany. And people can basically look for jobs in Germany and look for jobs in France, and people can be in Scotland and look for jobs in England, because you are using the same monetary system, but it's not the same here in Namibia, where you cannot go to South Africa and get jobs there.

Addressing Trade Relations

Similarly, South Africans coming here because there are restrictions. But at the same time, again, although Eswatini and Losoto and South Africa and Namibia are supposed to be in this common monetary area, we don't trade a with the same situation with Lesotho. And Eswatini is Lesotho with South Africa, and Namibia with South Africa. Now, my earlier statement was on what do you base your personal view on? Education? It is. Okay, okay, you can come back and then give me that then.

Final Thoughts on Economic Policy

Okay, thank you. Just to respond to the question, you know, I do understand that trade deficit is actually a huge disadvantage in order to dealing for my case personally. But let me just make a quick case, and that is with Switzerland. So Switzerland, for like around 2015 to 16 thereabout, I think they actually were running a trade deficit, which is also entrenched. But the moment they actually gain their currency, the Swiss flying against the euro, their currency actually appreciated immediately by 30%. And the reason for that is because the currency or its value is not actually just being maintained by the trade deficit or the trade surplus to some extent.

Analyzing Market Stability

There are other factors to look at, for example, the stability of the financial industry, basically. So Namibia has got, I think, a stock market, I think, which is the second or the third largest in Africa. That, for example, offers a big pulling effect in terms of foreign currency coming into Namibia and buying up local currency. And that would actually drive up the local currency as well. So stock market for the financial sector in general is one way to look at it.

Opportunities for Currency Independence

So I wanted to say finally, that basically, Namibia, I think at this point in time, is in a situation where if it deletes from the south african rain, basically it could make use of something called. This is still a theory to a large extent, but then there is something called the mortal monetary theory, basically. And that is basically how the financial or the monetary system could actually be made use in order to sort of benefit the economy to a large extent. And I don't want to get too much deep into that.

Theoretical Perspectives on Economic Growth

But to answer your question also about the evidence, I think one of the evidence to look at, Hawaiian has stability in terms of the financial sector and why there is not a lot of capital outflows, because this is a doomsday scenario, basically, where if Nomopia dealings, there is going to be capital outflow and things of that nature. But right now, I something like 50 basis points in terms, lower in terms of the interest rates here in Namibia versus that in South Africa. But still, even though that happened, there was not a huge outflow of capital out of Namibia going to all these foreign markets like South Africa.

Conclusion on Currency Implications

So that gets to prove the point that the financial sector has a lot of stability even within the trade. The trade has a lot of stability as well. So I think that offers an opportunity. I do understand the point and I do concur with the point that we could actually create a situation where we are in a trade surplus. It makes it way easier in order to. I get that. But I think even right now it's in a situation you're dealing because there are a lot of countries with good currency and currencies with good integrity that actually runs trade deficits.

Lessons from Botswana

Even Botswana. Botswana right now is actually running trade deficits for a couple of years, but still they have build up on foreign reserves, just keeps going out and going up. And the Botswana pula really is maintaining its integrity as well as currency. So I'm not saying it's just a one way street of saying because it's a trade deficit, you know what? It's going to be a huge impact on the currency. That's just my two cent. Thank you.

Trade Deficits and Financial Institutions

Absolutely. Thank you very much indeed for your contribution. Indeed. There is no country that has got no trade deficit. One little thing about Switzerland, having been neutral for some time, has actually the lowest interest rates, corporate taxes. And as a result of that, a lot of financial institutions have put their headquarters in Switzerland. And that is actually the same that happened in Mauritius as well. Now, with regard to the Namibia stock Exchange. A lot of the companies that are trading on our stock exchange are actually south african. Very few Namibians. You know, some companies, like Paratis, for example, and a few others. But the majority of them are South Africans. And one wonders, and this is not my field of expertise. But what happens if we delay? What will. What will the investment or the presence of this company mean on this stock exchange? Will they be likely to disinvest in Namibia? Or will they just stay there and perhaps create losses, especially at the corporate taxes that we are running this high?

Corporate Taxes and Financial Institutions

Mauritius was able to get a lot of financial institutions to go and establish their headquarters in Mauritius. After they reduced their corporate tax to 18. And that encourages that. And I think that the revenue coffers of Switzerland is beefed up. Because of that reduction in corporate tax as well. But thank you very much indeed for that idea. And I'm sure we will be able to cultivate that. May I move on now, with respect to the question on education? Yeah. My dear colleague, he used to be with me in the United Kingdom. Abram Iyambo. Abram Iyambo effectively only exploited the provisions of the namibian constitution. Where in article 20, it says that all persons shall have the right to education. Now, once that right is inherent in the constitution. And you have got a right to that.

Responsibilities of the Government Facing Education

Then the government has got an obligation. Utilizing its revenue sources. To provide for education. And he was absolutely right to propose a free education. An education that is supporting the knowledge transfer to our young. To make sure that Namibia has got a. The reserve of knowledge from these people to maintain the country in the future. Unfortunately, when you go to the provisions of the principles of state policy in Namibia. There is. And that is a fundamental right to education. Which means that actually people can stand up against the government and say, give us that right. And that right should not be, if it's fundamental, subject to an ability to pay. In the colonial time. And I'm a product of bandu education. My mother, who was supporting me. Used to get only 20 rents a month as a domestic worker. She couldn't possibly be able to pay my schooling at Augustinho.

The Reality of Education Costs

Which was actually a boarding school. And I was boarding. So in the old system, the government used to pay for the pens, the school books, everything. Basically, all we needed to pay is for our school uniforms. So it is potentially possible for a government to make education free, provided the government has their resources in its revenue coppers to pay for that education. I alluded to the fact that we need 4467 classrooms in this country, and we've got a lot of schools being built by the japanese government as part of our donations, and also the chinese governments, simply because we don't have enough money to build our own schools and to provide for our education. We have got a budget of 24 billion to education, of which 82% is gobbled up for salaries and administration, and sometimes overspending as well.

Budget Allocation in Education

And only 13% goes to learning materials that the teachers utilize to actually teach the students. 3.5% goes to infrastructure. Now, much of the money that the teachers are asking the children to and the parents to pay for should actually be coming from the government. But understand that unless the government creates jobs through a reduction in tax, which leads to companies and businesses and entrepreneurs to expand their companies and employ more people, so that the revenue of personal tax increases, we will not be able to afford a free education unless our revenue allows for it. So the answer to providing, at least in my analysis, a free education, is to ensure that we've got more people in jobs that will be able to provide taxes and increase our revenue collection, to be able to increase our 24 billion to perhaps something like 28 billion, to be able to cover the contributions from the parents to that, and make education really free.

Examples of Free Education in Other Countries

In various countries in the world, education is free. It's free in some of the european countries, and also in Rwanda next door is also free because they were able to re engineer their tax regimes and to engineer their country to make sure that a lot of people are working and are paying taxes. But as long as we have got less people in employment, I don't know what the figure is. It could be 43 of the working population not working. As long as you've got that amount of people out of jobs, we will not be able to collect enough revenue to be able, because it's from the revenue coffers that we build hospitals, that we provide medicine, that we build schools, that we provide teaching materials and salaries and everything else, including the government salaries.

Creating Revenue for Education

And that's why we are providing for a reduction in the number of ministers, not the institutions, neither the people working in those departments, but the ministers, so that we can reduce the outflow of money from our revenue. And by so doing, it's potentially feasible that an IPC government, once enacted and once it's given the mandate by the Namibians to be able, on those reductions and opening up more employment on this side, to have sufficient revenue to attempt a reduction in the contributions of the parents and provide free education. And we need to not only provide free education, but it must be education of a standard and equality that will be able to have a great outcome.

The Right to Quality Education

Our input must be determining the outcome of the people that actually goes through our educational system. So it's practically possible. And the fact that the right to education is a fundamental right. The government has a duty to provide free education because there is a provision in the law, in the constitution that write article five, which is the beginning of the fundamental rights, which says that the fundamental rights shall be respected and upheld by the executive, the legislator, and the judiciary, which means that the namibian government must uphold the right to free education, because a right is not subject to those who have got deep pockets. So we should be able to do that.

Issues of Mismanagement in Education

But I think it's a mismanagement of our economy and wrong policies that the government has instituted over the 34 years where education was relatively free. And increasingly, all sorts of clandestine maneuvers have been used to make people pay for even a pencil or a book to write on. And even if you're going to help, the same applies to a prescription paper. So education should be free, and we will be able to legislate for that if necessary. But it will be unnecessary, given that the constitution only make it a fundamental right. Thank you.

Educator Engagement and Expectations

Thank you, mister president, for answering that. Joshua, do you want to try now? Yes, I want to try. Do you hear me? Yes. Brilliant. I can hear you. Evening. You can hear me now? Yes, brilliant, Joshua. go ahead. I can hear. And good evening. you are the one who can't hear us. So I can hear you. Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Questions on Infrastructure and Education

Okay, I want to. I have, two questions. First, I want to ask about sporting infrastructure that we don't have in our country, especially for soccer. we have talented youth, but there is no infrastructure so that they can save their talent and show their talent. So that's why we are. We are not doing well in sport, especially soccer. So what will. What will you do about this? And secondly, is about education requirement is failing us. They make.

The Need for Development in Sports

They made English to be compulsary, to be combined institutions, or maybe in school or. But not agriculture. That's why it lead us to end up speaking good English. I can't hear anything. You can't hear anything? Okay. Okay, maybe let me write it. Yeah, I think I got the guests of this initial aspect of the question about whether we will be able to have Olympiads at the Olympics, at the next olympics. And we really need to look at.

Nurturing Athletic Talent

Since the days of Frank Fredericks and Boma, there hasn't been any attempt by the government to truly invest in searching for talent amongst our young people as athletes. And what we are trying to do is to see, subject to availability of funds. I don't want to be promising things that we cannot cost and not provide funding for, that we create some real basic codes of sports in various of our constituencies. And as I said before, this is an attempt to actually take away the young people from the streets and also from alcohol and all other drugs related issues that people take refuge to, because there is nothing to do.

Addressing Youth Engagement in Sports

Many of the people that I met under the tree says, you know, there's nothing to do other than sitting down and bringing turbo. But there is a lot of young people that are engaging themselves in various sports activities. And the government and the Ministry of Sports should actually be run by an energetic young person who understands the needs of the people. And it will be a meritocratic young person that will be placed in that ministry to be able to provide the needs of the young people in Namibia.

Plans for Olympic Participation

I'm looking forward to seeing our young people being representing Namibia in the Olympics. I think they are somewhere in America next to make sure that we start on next year to look for talent in every village. There's a lot of talent there. I went into those villages and I listened to young people talking, the way they put their weight order in sequences, and I said, that person has got a brain. It's only opportunity which is not there. And I think that by ensuring that sports in general, I used to run 100 meters, 200 high jump, you know, three sprung, they call it three jump, I think, and long jump as well.

Inclusivity in Sports

So I was also four by four. So as young person at apostinum, I was running and I was competing. And I think it's also necessary that we also encourage people to compete and to run. And we can create inter and intra constitutional tournaments to encourage people actually to run. Rather than just thinking about schools. There will be a lot of young people there that may have dropped out of school, but they've got that talent of being able to run. So we are seeking to invest in sports infrastructure in all the regions and focusing on what the young people want.

Investment in Sports Infrastructure

It's going to be driven by the young people. And we also want to make sure that we send out teams to identify these people, if need be, enlist external expertise to identify these people, but lessen the government to provide the necessary equipment and environment to train these people and to support them as well. Even creating a salary level for these young people that are going to present our nation, for whom we will be very proud of, to actually get a salary training scheme to make sure that they are trained while they are benefiting as well, because they will be coming from families that may not have the means to sustain them and to support them.

Overcoming Barriers to Participation

You know, just to get some running shoes may be a challenge. So we need to support it. We cannot just establish it, so we need to look for, and this is what we said in our manifesto, establishing a Youth Olympics training center to nature young Namibians, athletes, to be able to actually do that, and we will provide them and expose them to all the Olympics so that they get be enthused into taking part. I'm sure there is talent inside there.

Reflection on Past Experiences in Sports

And again, when were training as athletes at acoustinium high jump, were landing on hard surface. You know, even Paul jump, were landing on hard surface. We didn't have the necessary equipment that would have encouraged us to actually be saved. I remember even late Marco Oseko used to be a marathon runner. And I remember him running one marathon in 1974 and collapsing after running quite efficiently and dehydrated. And I also remember a young man from the south, from chess, who ran barefooted and window case, got a lot of stones and came back with blisters, blue all feet.

Challenges Faced by Athletes

And he was in baggages for almost a month before he could work. Absolutely. And he won. Unfortunately, it was painful. So we need to make it easy for our young people to be able to participate in sports. I'm sorry, Joshua, your connection seems to be a little bit having a headache. This is over to you, host.

Addressing the Red Line Issue in Agriculture

Thank you, city, for that. Councilor Otelia, the floor is yours. Councilor Otilia, may you please unmute? Okay, I think I can just go. Someone is asking about the red line. There was the red line. Yeah, we answered last time. Yeah. Well, I mean. I mean, just briefly. The red line is not a problem. It's not a physical problem, is not an economic barrier.

Solutions to the Agricultural Challenges

It can be resolved simply by placing laboratories in the north that will be able to test all the animal products, meat, etcetera, from the north. And if those products are disease free, they should be appearing in the Shoprite shelves in Chakati, kirk and windu, because then there was disease transfer. And it's not a. It's not about the physical barrier, taking all that sort of fencing out. It's actually got enormous land as well, because last time I was at Bravo, which is in Kavango west, and this fence goes all the way to Murray Gate, and it goes all the way to the Botswana border, and then it extends from Murrani Gate to Oshivelo and then to Verde through Okaokweo, and then on the other side to the coast.

The Political Aspect of the Red Line

So it's a physical barrier. That physical barrier is useful for managing crime and security, people running from police in the south or the north. But it's not a big problem. It shouldn't be a political problem either. It should never be politicized. All we need to do is to get our scientists, and we've got a lot of veterinary surgeons in Namibia, to go and establish laboratories in Oshakati on Bangalore and be able to test products and allow the farmers there to sell their products and contribute to the growth of our economy and the export of our commodity in various processing systems that we can put in the secondary sector and process our meat products in all sorts of things.

Final Thoughts on the Red Line

So I don't think that in any way that the red line is a problem at all. It's a question of just getting money put out laboratories, test every cat and put them in quarantine as necessary. And then if they are negative, we eat the meat. I mean, in gum. At the moment, there was a break in the fence between the namibian border and the Botuan border, and some of the buffaloes came across and mixed with the cattle of the people there. And since then, those cattle, the cows there, could not be traded.

Political Misleading Surrounding the Red Line

At the auctions in Ochinene, the fence was closed and they had to take blood and send it to South Africa. And those that were cleared were able to come on this side, of course, through the gate just before you get to Asep. There is a gate there as well, which is the red line as well, so it's not a big problem. People try to politicize it for whatever gain, you know, it's good to do so, but it's misleading. It's not a political issue at all. Over to you, host.

Government Support and Education Initiatives

People were in squally conditions and look what he did. By actually training his people and carrying on to support his people and to make it absolutely necessary that the country grow. It's one of the best countries. They did it really well. They were able to identify that the whole world slips and financial market slips, and Singapore was there in the middle of everybody, and they decided, let's have it down here as well. So you will be able to trade around the clock, as it were. Now, with technology, it's even easier to do so. Okay, there's somebody here called Christophe saying, I would like to ask on how they. I suppose this IPC's department of education are going to deal with the issues of unemployed teachers. Our university are producing thousands of teachers each and every year. When I was in Ohingu, one teacher was saying, there is 15,000 unemployed teachers in this country. And I alluded to the needs of more classrooms. And there will be a need for more schools as well, to be able to cater for a growing population.

Population Growth and Education Demand

We already recorded our population as 3,022,401. With all these economic developments in the oil and gas situation, there is going to be a lot of people that will need education. In addition, we are also looking to lifelong learning, where we are taking people that are obviously the dropped out of education, also to be able to be brought back and be given skills, to be able to make ends meet in terms of getting jobs. So our educational proposals are such that we might have to retrain these teachers, especially supporting them, for them to be able to cope with a technologically advancing world. And we will have to create education schools to be able to employ these teachers. I think one of the biggest problems that the government is struggling with is an ability to pay these teachers. There is a shortage of teachers in the country because there's obviously a lack of classrooms, given the overcrowded classes. And the government has got overcrowded classes because there isn't sufficient classrooms and they don't have money to pay for the teachers.

Investment in Education Infrastructure

We will need to invest heavily infrastructure development in the educational sector and to be able also to support the teachers, to create employment for them. Now, I understand that many of the teachers teaching was not their first choice at all. Sometimes it was the third or the fourth even. And I know of a teacher that trained as a teacher and then went off. And actually it was his mother who was telling me this and went off to go and train something else with an attempt to go and get a job in that sector. And they are still unemployed at the age of 32. So we need. We've got a big job as IPC to create jobs for our young people and not so young people, 36 above that has been out of job for a long time with their qualifications. And I mean, if you are training as a teacher and you are ten years out of employment, really, are you still possessive of all the teaching skills or do you need a little bit of enhancement, retraining, to be able to do that?

Challenges of Teacher Employment and Retraining

So we are really wasting our people here. And it's because principally, the government has got no money to pay salaries of these teachers and they are trying everything. It's election year and the tape is going to be turned wide open. It's classic in all African countries during elections, for the government and the various ministries to turn the tape wide open and start dishing out money left and right. That is only a period. And after the elections, they close the tap, so they will not be employing teachers. I've seen the courage of the teachers in Rulu, for example. They took it upon themselves to actually establish an educational institution and the ministry had to go and take them away. So our teachers are. There are teachers who are really teachers as a colleague, and they will do everything else, even voluntary, to be able to contribute to the knowledge base of our people. So we will be able to look at that. And we incorporated it.

Comprehensive Educational Policies

When one reads our manifesto, it's a multi-pronged manifesto that is addressing quite a lot of issues. At the same time, there is a synergic approach to the achievements of if we have the mandate to implement the policies that we are advocating. Thank you, Sifi. Matile, you can. May you please unmute and speak? Thank you so much. Yes, I can hear you. Good evening, Matile. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, yeah. Good evening. Good evening, doctor Itola. Good evening, Namibian youth and everyone listening. My name is Muwati Ranginoshiho. Although I'm not a youth, because I'm 41, I now have three young men at home. They are both at tertiary institutions and they are all first time voters. And I also have several nephews and nieces. And throughout our discussions, because we are serious about who to give our vote, they somehow convinced me that given the current status quo, their future seem uncertain.

Youth Perspectives and Challenges

And I invited them to come and listen to this discussion today. Throughout my career, I have been very privileged of working on youth related issues. Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to work for the Namibia Training Authority, where I contributed by writing several training manuals on vocational education with the support from the industry experts. So these topics of today, it's really close to my heart because somehow I felt that something went wrong. As I said earlier, I said, we are working with the industry experts, but we now have so many graduates from vocational training centers without jobs, yet our industry are still complaining about lack of employees with the right skills. I'm a strong believer in education. As I have discussions with youth. I say, okay, maybe not now, but please continue studying. I had my primary education in a small village in Omsati region and with the support of my unemployed mother because my father died when I was ten.

Personal Journeys and the Value of Education

And my uncle, Tate Elifas, who was just a cook at David Chehama secondary school, really enabled us that all of us, the fourth us without a father, we completed our education. And I ended up working for the United Nations. Started in Namibia. I worked in South Africa, Lesotho, now serving in South Sudan. So I strongly believe that education is the greatest equalizer. Maybe not now, but if you equip yourself, it will come out right. I'm particularly impressed with how the IPC government plans to address the challenge of skill match in the job market. Because I know, we all know what is black tasks. Most of us, we are paying school fees, and three years down the line, people, they don't have jobs. So Doctor Itula's response was highly encouraging and especially the short term strategy he outlined.

Skill Matching and Industry Partnerships

Because I was thinking, how long am I going to keep paying school fees and after school fees? Then every year, again, every month is people going to interviews and they are not able to secure a job. I'm really impressed by your answer on industry partnerships, where you said IPC will establish some partnerships between vocational training centers and industry to create an appreciate apprenticeship system. Most of us, we did not go through that. I remember I was at poly then there was something called integrated learning. I went to Namibia Nature foundation. What they were teaching me, I ended up not using it, but somehow it came right. And I'm also very impressed about the government incentives. I'm seeing that there's some organization, for example, I think you were referring to Germany, some giz.

Youth Initiatives and Agricultural Interests

I think they did some trial on that. And I see some youth going through. We really need more of that. And lastly, the entrepreneurship support, because we also have some. I'm hearing the youth who are talking, they are very passionate about agriculture. And when they are talking about the red line, some of them, they don't have cows or cattle. But this is something which you feel. And I'm just happy that you are able to listen to them and contextualize where they are coming from without judging them. That. Okay, the topic is about education. I'm so hopeful and I hope the youth are invited to the. To this session, are also listening, and this will help them make a decision on who they are going to vote for. I made up mine.

Acknowledgment and Education Focus

Thank you so much, Lao. Thank you very much indeed for. Thank you for that contribution. Yes, thank you very much indeed for that contribution. Because of the short time that we had, we've got quite a lot of things that needs to be done. We need to be able to see whether these things will work. And we need to concentrate on sectors, the high demand sectors to make, such as mining and construction and agriculture, and of course, also ICT, because a lot of the young people are in this. And we need to be able to have a time limit where we can actually get expertise to bring the youth in and to see how they will actually cope with this system. And that is the. I was. I attended the German Unity day on the 3 October, and I was attentively listening to the German ambassador, who kindly invited me to be present.

International Collaboration in Youth Development

And of course, there were a lot of people as well. And he was relating to how the government of Germany is supporting various aspects of youth training in Namibia. He was looking at how they supported Unum campus in Katima Mulilo and also vocational training in Katima Moolilo. And they are also supporting. There is also support from the Japanese ambassador invited me to have lunch with him so that he can understand what IPC is prepared to do. And as all ambassadors are sent to our countries to be able to understand the policies of government and policies of those who are in the political sphere, should they come into power, should they be mandated. And the Japanese ambassador was referring to the rise project that they have with the campus as well.

Investment in Agricultural and Infrastructure Development

And there is also the Malaysians that are looking at investing in agriculture and transferring their skills as well. And I remember speaking to the Japanese ambassador as well, about their idea of building a railway network from the port of Walmis Bayou to the Katima Mulila into the interior of Africa. So our development partners are there. If were to put up a realistic, objective, factually evidence-based program that will be able to take our young people into industries as apprentices. As I said, I've been an apprentice in dental technology and dentistry and maxillofascial surgery as well. Well, when I was training, and I know the benefit thereof, you know, I remember when I qualified as a dentist, I went as an apprentice and was taking out a wisdom tooth.

Skills Training and Employment Opportunities

I thought I had all the skills. Classic. You come from university, you've got all the didactic knowledge of what is to be done, but the skills to actually do it was incredibly difficult. And when I went through that apprenticeship, I can close my eyes and do perform those skills. And I think that it's only fair to give our young people also that opportunity, of course, utilizing our development partners to assist us and to make sure that our private sector is also given some incentives to support this, because eventually will be somebody that they may be able to improve employer. And we need to do this really quickly. Our people, our young people are out crying and saying, we want a living.

Young People's Needs and Government Accountability

People who are 34 years old now, they are not interested in the history of the struggle or anything like that. They want to put bread on the table. Some of them want to get married and support their children in education and see them go to university and get married and see that cycle repeat itself again. As a government, our responsibility must be, and I should emphasize that those ministers, that will be my delight, to appoint them to look after the issues of young people who need to deliver. They need to be accountable, they need to make sure that they are using their resources effectively and efficiently. And if they are doing so, and empowering our young people to be able to benefit from all these programs that we are going to be envisaging, implementing, then Namibia will be a different picture and encouraging the young people to think about their future.

Engagement and Responsiveness from Leadership

And, you know, mathile. Yes. Thank you very much for writing up all of those. I think if I were to call conduct a vote on this platform, 99% of the people on this platform will probably say yes. Thank you very much. We are proud of you to support all these countries. Perhaps it's time to come back home and support Namibia so that we can gain so much from your international exposure and then send up the youth to take over your responsibility and guide us. This is why they say so you will be the residue that will be able to contribute to the eventual success of our young people as well. Over to you, host.

Conclusion and Future Conversations

Thank you, CP. Thank you. Thank you, doctor. I'm humbled. Justine, you may go ahead and ask your question. Justine, or school, whoever is ready between the two of you, can just unmute and speak. Good evening. Good evening, Justine. Welcome. Good evening. Thank you. My question is basically based on teenage pregnancies. So, to the president, Namibia obviously faces a significant issue of teenage pregnancies with around about 19% of teenage girls experiencing the pregnancy issue since 2017. As it has been reported, these 19% has been consistent since 2017. So it's quite an alarming trend in certain regions, especially hungarian region where DC.

Statistics and Concerns Regarding Teenage Pregnancies

It was reported that about 9000 plus learners dropped out due to not dropped out, but were affected by the teenage pregnancy. And just the first term this year in Zambeza region, about 147 teenage pregnancies were reported. Now, of course, these are high rates and have very serious consequences for the education system as the girls who become pregnant often drop out of school and it becomes a. A cycle. And if anything happens to these young boys who impregnate them and if they are even from the school, is that either they just, you know, face financial pressures or legal, or either social expectations, you know, to be. To be part and present of the children's lives. And of course, it becomes sort of like potentially disrupting their education and future prospects.

Existing Policies and Their Effectiveness

So in efforts to address this particular issue now, the Ministry of education came up with a policy back in 2017, 2013, basically, that was called prevention and management of Lena pregnancy policy. I don't know how effective it has been. And also because of this issue, a lot of stigma goes around with learners who are dealing with teenage pregnancy. There is a lack of support and resources, of course, limited resources that still hinders the effectiveness of the policy. Now, there's a need for, of course, multi-sectoral approach, including a comprehensive sexual education, better health access and strong community support. My question then comes in as to what additional measures and policies will the IPC administration introduce to ensure and to address the root cause of teenage pregnancies as a limited access to, especially such as limited access to reproductive health, as health education, as well as cultural practices that discourages the use of contraceptions and a lot more.

Cultural and Community Considerations

This could be seen in rural areas. Thank you. Yeah, thank you very much, Justina. During my travels around the country from 2014, I remember traveling through various regions, and I was. And I think I've actually circulated that picture. I was on route to a tanga between, and I encountered at a cooker shop six of Ahimba children, barely 16. Three of them already had children. And I said, well, what happened to them enjoying their life as children when you've got child mothers at this age? And there was a 13-year-old, which I encountered all of the way to Okangwati, and I asked the midwife there, or rather the nurse there, how old was your youngest mother that came to your clinic pregnant? And she said it was a 13-year-old.

Global Context of Teenage Pregnancies

Now, there are certain. This whole thing of teenage pregnancies is not unique to Namibia. It's all over the world. But also there are certain. Culture is a multifactorial thing, there are cultural factors that contributes to this. There are beliefs in certain of our cultures. I don't want to be specific which cultures that also contributes to teenage pregnancies. And when one thinks about the responsibility of government and the rights of the child, one would be considered to be interfering in the cultural practices. One of the ladies in the Opu area said to me, when I said, but she's only 14, she just said, she now, that is the belief that we've got in some of our communities.

Community Education and Teacher Conduct

I think there needs to be a community education that will allow us to understand some of the cultural shifts that we might have to introduce. And at the same time, as well, what is really sad is this, that the parents leave these children in the hands of the teachers, and it's actually the teachers that are impregnating the school children. And this is where perhaps we in IPC said that we will need to establish a national teaching council to regulate the conduct of teachers. But it cannot end there. We've got a divided nation in terms of sexual education. Some people consider it immoral that their children are educated about contraceptives, etcetera. And I think there was also an issue in Omsati where parents were objecting in one of the constituencies, on a letter that was sent to the parents to inform that your children will be exposed to sexual education.

Complexity of Implementation and Proposed Solutions

It is going to be very complex because there is also not only a cultural but also a religious component to it. Depending on which sector of the religion that the people belong, contraceptives may well be considered contraindicated in some beliefs. And if that is the case, it's going to be very difficult, for example, in the catholic faith, to introduce contraceptives. Remember that abortion has been a discussion, but contraceptives are not allowed in certain sectors to the extended when young girls get pregnant. The option of abortion, on the other hand, that is a different topic completely, is also not available to them, for them to be able to then continue with their education.

Support for Young Mothers in Education

But should a school child get pregnant, I think it's a responsibility of the government to ensure that child does not miss out on education and be able to be allowed after delivery, of course, with all other care to be able to come back. But then you'll have a problem. Are we going to have care centers at schools as well, so that these young mothers can go and breastfeed during breaks, etcetera? What would be the impact on the whole educational system if we do that? So this is going to be a very difficult issue that needs to be discussed very carefully and sensitively being implemented in our schools. But prevention is probably what we need to enhance first.

Sexual Education and Public Response

Yes, sexual education is a possible route, but then we'll be able to encounter quite a lot of objection to that. I don't have all the answers, but I'm quite sure that there is experts in the field that will be able to guide the government of the day as to what is the most appropriate approach to reducing, if not preventing, teenage pregnancies and robbing the young girls of their teenage years. And yet the young men who impregnate the children carry on with their life unimpeded and finish their education. And some of them basically don't do anything to support the child.

Responsibility of Young Fathers

Perhaps a regulation should come in to make sure that this young man fathers now should mean it should be made compulsory that they too, take care of the baby once the baby is born, spend some time with that. That is a problem that was carried out, I think, in north England, in the area of Newcastle, where the fathers to these children were forced to actually look after the babies. The other project that was carried out as well by obstetrician gynecologists, is to provide the young children while at school with real babies, you know, dolls that can do everything else.

Nurturing Future Generations

They can pull, they can cry, they can scream, they can vomit. And I think that is a baby that was developed sometime back in Liverpool area in England, where these girls were given these babies so that they can understand it wakes up in the middle of the night as well. 02:00, 03:00 etcetera. And you can get sick and vomit as well. So sometimes these are land tools that are exposed to the young generation so that they can actually say, wow, I don't want to do anything to do with this at all, and in that way abstain, as it were. But again, there is rape and all sorts of things that results in young children being impregnated as well. We have to keep all of this one and careful approach as a sensitive approach should be brought about.

Holistic Approach to Education and Teenage Pregnancy

It's not a political question. It may be a moral question, it may be a health question as well as a social question. We need to address it very carefully. Looking at, of course, we cannot invent the wheel looking at what other people have done in other jurisdictions as well. Not quite sure whether I adequately give response to your question, Justine, but that is how far I could actually respond to.

Gratitude and Closing Remarks

Thank you very much indeed. Thank you so much, CP, for that. We are actually out of time, and I would like to thank everyone for being part of this insightful session. A special thank you to our president. Thank you for your time and thought for the responses. Cpenna we appreciate it indeed. Thank you very much indeed to everybody. And now I can go and have a cup of tea. Thank you indeed. Education is the foundation of our future and it's crucial that we continue these conversations. Next week we'll be discussing healthcare and social welfare. Don't miss it.

Farewell and Future Engagements

Have a wonderful evening, everyone. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Good night.