The United Democratic Front Youth League (UDFYL) has elected Reinhold Goseb as its new Secretary General at the 2nd elective congress for the youth wing in 15 years.
The elective congress in Swakopmund was a crucial event for one of Namibia's oldest political parties.
Although the United Democratic Front is 35 years old, the party's youth league has been dormant since holding its first congress in 2009.
An interim committee was established in 2018, and outgoing Secretary General Michael Skini ran the youth leagues' affairs.
The leadership has been busy setting up the necessary structures to democratically run the wing.
This paved the way for the elective congress at Swakopmund, which attracted 63 youth delegates from various regions.
Reinhold Goseb and Manpret Nuseb were elected Secretary General and Deputy, while Wrens Kopper clinched the National Chairperson position.
Elsie Goagoses and Nicolene Goses are the new Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer of the youth wing.
Sylvanus Awaseb and Sedney Seibeb were elected Secretary of Information and National Organiser, respectively.
The outgoing Secretary General emphasised the need for the new leadership to prioritise training for the youth to get them to refrain from alcohol and drug abuse.
"Newly elected leadership must make sure our youth are trained in all these disciplines. If we're to expect our youth to perform and make UDF great again, we must prioritise training and development, and sufficient budgetary allocations must be made in this regard. I'm glad the national treasurer is present."
Echoing similar sentiments was the party president, who described the youth as the backbone of the UDF.
"Young people should set the tone. You are the backbone of this party. You are the energy base of this organisation. Brave young lions of the UDF, politics is not an employment opportunity. The masses demand to be governed by the best. Therefore, study and make yourself a person of value. People make space for what they value the most. Go out and educate the Namibian nation about UDF and our political philosophy of social democracy."
Over the past year, the interim leadership of the UDF youth wing organised leadership training sessions as a means to build capacity among its members.