Newly elected Swakopmund junior mayor, Shakira Kisting, has said her vision is for the town’s youth to be able to express themselves freely while making decisions confidently.

Kisting, a Grade 11 learner at Namib High School, said this in an interview with the media on the side-lines of the inauguration of the new Swakopmund Junior Town Council (JTC) members here on Wednesday.

She also commented on the inclusivity of the JTC.

“I myself am not very academically gifted, but I am grateful to be given this opportunity in order to bring in a sense of variety with regards to the academic statuses in the JTC. I am glad that I get to represent the learners and youth who have been neglected for some time now due to their academics,” she said.

Meanwhile, outgoing junior mayor Liam Labuschagne said the JTC lost three members who were forced to move to schools outside Swakopmund as local schools did not want to accept them because of their poor Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level results.

AS levels are subject-based qualifications that can lead to university, further study, training, or work. In the Namibian context, learners are required to complete the NSSC-O (two years) covered in Grade 10 and 11 and meet the requirement to progress to NSSC-AS Level.

“Students are forced to complete this very difficult course in a few months. I hope this matter is dealt with as soon as possible in order for our country to have a prosperous future,” Labuschagne urged.

The junior town council has 12 members. The other newly elected members are deputy mayor Penouua Kaoti, public relations officer Ricky ?Unaeb, secretary Amit Cai Van Wyk, and treasurer Ester Shigwedha.

Its purpose is to discuss and provide innovative ways for the Swakopmund Council to carry out its operations, as well as for the members to learn the necessary leadership skills to become positive, proactive members of the community.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency