The Swapo Party Youth League's Hosea Kutako branch feels that the pioneers are neglected in the main party's structure.

Branch Secretary Absalom Shihepo says it is time to bring the pioneers closer to the leadership through the established Pioneer Development Program, which will engage the youth at least every six months.

Shihepo says it is vital that pioneers are groomed from a tender age to understand what leadership is all about and make positive changes in their communities.

"What we are trying to instill in the young ones is that you need to go through the process; you can't just be a leader if you have not been through the structures of the party; you need to understand certain things otherwise we will be a nation that complains about things and does nothing about them. All we are trying to instill in these young ones is the importance of being accountable in society."

The Pioneer Development Programme aims to push for the reconstruction of the minds of young people, nurture them, and grow them into leadership while re-emphasizing their role in the country's economic freedom.

"We need to instill a mindset in them so that they understand that it doesn't matter what age you are, but if you can advocate for some of the things we are facing in society, that's what leadership is. We want them to be exposed to the issues we are facing in society and take responsibility for these issues. We don't want to have young people who just think it's the responsibility of the elders to resolve these issues. It's all about asking, 'what did I do as a young person to help out'?"

Shihepo also encouraged the youth to develop a culture of reading in order to disseminate factual information and guard against defamatory remarks.