WINDHOEK: DTA of Namibia president Katuutire Kaura on Saturday urged young people to “become owners” of the African continent instead of just being “virtual squatters”.
Kaura was speaking during the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA) youth school programme, which kicked off here on Saturday. The DTA is hosting the two-day programme.
The DUA is a working association of democratic parties in Africa in which parties holding similar beliefs exchange views on matters of policy and organisational interest, so that they can learn from each other, act together, establish contacts and “speak with one strong voice” to promote democracy around Africa.
Opposition parties from countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mozambique, Lesotho, Liberia, Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and Namibia are in attendance at the youth school.
“The youth of today, particularly in Africa, are faced with serious challenges. Our continent is classified as the poorest of the poor and yet we are the producers of so many raw materials,” Kaura said.
The DTA president then went on to say that Africa is “virtually just squatting” as the continent “is owned” by the likes of the United Kingdom (UK) and China, amongst others.
“What is wrong with us Africans? Why can’t we also manufacture our own suits made in Accra for instance?” Kaura asked, adding that people buy suits from Paris while the continent produces its own cotton.
He also advised the youths in attendance to not become leaders that just fight for positions and said they should learn to be democrats as democracy “is the best system that has been brought up by the human mind”.
“Our opposition parties here in Namibia are still waiting on the verdict of the 2009 elections, which I strongly believe were rigged,” Kaura stated.
He said 60 000 votes from the elections could not be accounted for and yet the elections could not be nullified.
“What I don’t understand is if opposition parties are struggling, why should those who have the majority rig elections like that?” the DTA president stated.
The attendees were set to discuss topics such as party principles and presentation, policy and party development, and effective communication and campaigning during the two-day event.