Namibia's youngest MP aims to make her mark
Youthful lawmaker steps into the spotlight
At just 22, Fenny Tutjavi is determined to push for urgent action on issues affecting Namibia's youth.
The presence of 29-year-old Cabinet minister Emma Theofelus and 22-year-old member of parliament Fenny Tutjavi in the country’s top governance structures signals a notable shift towards youthful representation.Tutjavi has held several leadership roles, beginning with school positions and extending to university governance and youth organisations, all rooted in her commitment to standing up for her peers.
Her political foundation was built within the Swapo Party, which she joined after learning about its values and history. “It has never been about titles or positions, it's about challenging the status quo and creating a fair, just, and prosperous society,” she explained in a recent interview with Careers.
Among the challenges she has faced is the perception that youth lack experience.
She acknowledged that “age is often equated with inexperience” and argues that young politicians must prove themselves more than their older counterparts.
Leave none behind
In her April address to the National Assembly, Tutjavi highlighted several national priorities, with a particular focus on equitable education for all Namibians.
While she welcomed the country’s significant investment in education, she stressed that the real challenge lies in how those resources are allocated and utilised. She emphasised the need for well-equipped schools, qualified teachers and adequate resources to ensure that learners are not only enrolled, but also actively supported and inspired to learn.
She also urged equal recognition of vocational education. “We must not settle for structural systems that reward privilege and punish potential,” she said, emphasising that no learner should be left behind.
Her focus on youth unemployment is clear and practical. She supports new policies that provide internships and apprenticeships and provide entrepreneurial support, and she has welcomed government’s move to budget for these initiatives.
But she cautioned that “policy alone is not progress”, and that it must be implemented with urgency and resolve.
She also stressed the need for investment in mental health services, youth rehabilitation and justice services. "Safety is not optional, it is a right” she said, and underlined that public safety should be treated as a national priority.
On matters of foreign partnerships, she took a firm position, saying Namibia must remain focused on its own goals. Quoting Thomas Sankara, she said: “He who feeds you, controls you.” She emphasised that Namibia must feed and govern itself without compromising its independence.
Her call to fellow youth was both serious and motivational. “Each generation has its 'call owners', and it is on us to either rise to the occasion or to betray it,” she said. With this, she invited her generation to take part in shaping the future not tomorrow, but today.