Namibia Junior National Council: PM Ngurare Urges Youth on Water Access

• Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare urged young leaders at the fourth Junior National Council in Windhoek to generate new ideas for Namibia's development and protect scarce water resources.
• The council's theme focused on universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for Namibian children, highlighting its impact on health, education, and dignity.
• Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan targets increasing household potable water access to 94.8% and basic sanitation access to 64.2% by 2030.
• UNICEF reported 93.9% access to basic water services in Namibia, but noted significant regional disparities and that 47.2% of the population still practices open defecation.
• Newly elected Junior National Council chairperson Fritz Hangue pledged to ensure young Namibian voices are heard and to actively shape the country's future.

He stressed that the challenge extends beyond mere infrastructure provision, such as boreholes, pipes, and toilets, touching upon the fundamental societal values Namibia aspires to uphold.

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare recently addressed the inaugural session of the fourth Namibia Junior National Council in Windhoek, urging young people to actively contribute fresh perspectives for national development. Speaking to junior councillors representing all 14 regions of the country, Ngurare emphasized their integral role as participants in Namibia's parliamentary democracy, rather than mere observers. He challenged these young leaders to cultivate a problem-solving mindset and devise innovative strategies for safeguarding Namibia's limited water resources.

Ngurare underscored the critical need for youth to not only identify societal shortcomings but also to proactively envision and implement alternative solutions. He advocated for providing young Namibians with meaningful platforms to articulate their concerns on vital issues such as education, employment opportunities, climate change, and access to clean water and sanitation. The Prime Minister asserted that young people are already citizens of Namibia, bearing the responsibility to actively shape the nation's future rather than passively awaiting its inheritance. He further articulated that true leadership transcends titles, embodying service, responsibility, and integrity, characterized by listening, reading, and questioning.

The central theme for this year's Junior National Council, 'Towards Universal Access to Water, Sanitation, Hygiene for Every Namibian Child,' directly informed a significant portion of Prime Minister Ngurare's address. He highlighted how insufficient access to these basic services detrimentally impacts children's health, educational attainment, personal dignity, and future prospects. Ngurare stressed that the challenge extends beyond mere infrastructure provision, such as boreholes, pipes, and toilets, touching upon the fundamental societal values Namibia aspires to uphold.

Ngurare detailed the ambitious Namibia water sanitation 2030 targets outlined in the country's Sixth National Development Plan. These objectives aim to elevate household access to potable water from the current 90.75% to 94.8% and to increase basic sanitation access from 57.15% to 64.2% within the next seven years. While acknowledging the government's ongoing responsibility for urgent planning, investment, and implementation, Ngurare recognized persistent disparities in communities affected by drought, geographical distance, infrastructure limitations, and population growth. He stressed that achieving universal access necessitates broad cooperation among the government, local authorities, communities, development partners, the private sector, and civil society, as the government cannot accomplish this monumental task in isolation.

Adding to the discourse on national development, Toshiko Takahashi, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Country Representative, speaking on behalf of Country Representative Samuel Ocran, provided an update on Namibia's progress in water and sanitation. She reported that Namibia has achieved significant strides in basic water services, with 93.9% of its population now having access. However, Takahashi pointed out notable regional disparities in UNICEF Namibia water access, citing Khomas region with 99.8% access, while ||Kharas stands at 79.8% and Kunene at 77.3%.

Despite progress in water access, sanitation remains a substantial hurdle for the nation. Takahashi revealed that only 66.6% of the population has access to improved sanitation facilities, and a concerning 47.2% still resort to open defecation. These figures underscore the ongoing challenges and the critical importance of the Junior National Council's focus on universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for every Namibian child.

The Junior National Council serves as a vital platform for youth engagement, and its newly elected chairperson, Fritz Hangue Junior Council, has committed to leading with unwavering integrity and impartiality. Hangue articulated his view of the position as a crucial opportunity to ensure that the voices of young Namibians are not merely heard, but are genuinely considered and acted upon. He called upon all council members to collaborate effectively, emphasizing that their mandate extends beyond simply discussing Namibia's future; it is about actively shaping it.

This call to action from both Prime Minister Ngurare and Chairperson Hangue reinforces the message that young people are not future leaders but current contributors to the nation's trajectory. Their participation in forums like the Namibia Junior National Council Ngurare's address highlights is instrumental in addressing pressing national issues, particularly those related to sustainable development and equitable access to essential services.

This article reports on a political address, not a legal development. While it highlights Namibia's 2030 water and sanitation targets and calls for private sector cooperation, it offers no direct, immediate legal or compliance implications for lawyers or compliance officers.

Source: Original reporting via Namibian