Allexer Namundjebo The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement wants the voting age lowered from 18 to 16.  AR parliamentarian Tuhafeni Kalola on Wednesday gave notice that he would table a motion on the matter next month. Kalola said the motion is based on the fact that 16-year-olds in Namibia are already permitted by law to make several significant life decisions.  He said this includes giving legal consent to sexual activity, acquiring a national ID card, opening a bank account, making a will, and applying for a learner’s driving licence. Article 20(3) of the Namibian Constitution also allows 16-year-olds to decide whether to leave school. Currently, Article 17(2) of the Constitution sets the voting age at 18.  Kalola argued that this creates a contradiction. “If a 16-year-old can make significant life decisions, they should also have a say in the democratic process. Lowering the voting age will empower our youth and strengthen our democracy,” he said. The motion calls for a parliamentary debate and referral to the relevant standing committee for further study.  If approved, it would result in a change to Namibia’s electoral laws. This is not the first time the idea has been raised.  In 2014, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) advocated for lowering the voting age to 16 to encourage youth participation in democracy.  The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) also supported the idea, saying young people should be allowed to vote as part of benefiting practically from democracy. Landless People’s Movement (LPM) youth leader Duminga Ndala said the proposal deserves serious national discussion.  She cautioned against treating it as a political gimmick. “Lowering the voting age has the potential to empower young people to play a more active role in shaping the country’s future, especially on matters that directly affect them, such as education, employment, climate change, and digital policy,” she said. Ndala added that the reform must be backed by strong civic education within schools.  She said the success of such a change depends on whether young people feel heard and are equipped with unbiased, accessible information. “If implemented thoughtfully and supported by strong educational and institutional frameworks, lowering the voting age could strengthen democratic participation and help cultivate a generation of engaged, informed citizens,” Ndala said. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said allowing 16-year-olds to vote could build early civic responsibility. “Many 16-year-olds are already working, paying taxes, and affected by government decisions, so giving them a say makes sense,” he said. “However, it’s important to also strengthen civic education to ensure they are well-prepared to make informed choices.” IPPR director Graham Hopwood echoed the same view. “Lowering the voting age to 16 could encourage early civic engagement and help young people develop a sense of responsibility in shaping the country’s future,” Hopwood said. The motion will be officially tabled in the National Assembly on 1 July 2025.

MICHAEL LISWANISO The Kabbe South constituency polling station at Nakabolelwa showed low voter turnout in the by-elections which started on Tuesday morning. By 08h30, fewer than 50 registered voters had cast their votes. Poor turnout was also observed at other polling stations, Zambezi electoral officer Lesley Simwanza said. “They were on time here at Nakabolelwa, and we are still on point, but the turnout is low this morning,” he said. Among those who were first to cast their votes at Nakabolelwa was currently vying Swapo candidate Raymond Sezuni and former constituency councillor John Likando. Sezuni urged the electorate to come out in numbers to vote shortly after casting his vote, while Likando expressed satisfaction with the number of polling stations set up in the flood-prone constituency. On Sunday afternoon during the deployment of 127 polling officials, Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) returing officer for the Kabbe South by-election Kahimbi Masule said 24 fixed teams comprised five members each with an additional two police officers. Additionally, seven mobile teams will cover over 16 villages in the constituency. The Kabbe South constituency has a total of 3 509 registered voters who are expected to cast their votes to elect a new constituency councillor – a seat left vacant in March by Likando, who now serves in the National Council. Sezuni and the Independent Patriots for Change’s Sydney Shamwazi, are the only two candidates contesting in the by-elections. – Nampa The post Kabbe South records low voter turnout appeared first on The Namibian.