Windhoek: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare on Monday urged the youth to set aside their differences and embrace unity, emphasising the importance of preserving the integrity of the National Youth Council (NYC) for collective benefit. Ngurare's appeal followed a discredited NYC General Assembly over the weekend marred by allegations of intimidation, violence, and bribery among delegates.According to Namibia Press Agency, he expressed his disappointment that what was meant to be a moment of democratic renewal for the youth ended in discord, leaving the organisation at a critical juncture. He implored the youth to consider their path forward. In his statement, Ngurare emphasised, 'It is your responsibility to choose unity or disunity.'He cautioned that future generations will assess the current youth's actions based on the path they choose, urging them to prioritise unity and the growth of NYC over short-term personal interests. Ngurare affirmed that every generation must be allowed to make its own decisions an d learn from its mistakes, acknowledging the contributions of both past and present youth leaders.'How you do it entirely depends on how you view your future. The NYC Act stipulates the requirements for affiliates to conform to, and in how many regions they should be actively present to qualify for NYC. Do not selectively choose requirements that suit the moment,' he said.The prime minister emphasised to the youth that unity does not mean the absence of differences or disagreements; rather, it is the maturity to rise above them and work together to achieve a greater goal. 'Differences, however huge and wide, should strengthen, not destroy, our future as individuals and as a nation. Wisdom begins with managing differences for a better tomorrow,' he remarked.The conflict at the general assembly and elective congress is attributed to the two candidates gunning for the top position, both from the ruling party. The rivalry between Esther Simon and Simon Taapopi for the NYC executive chairperson role reported ly derailed the congress. Ngurare stressed that the Swapo Party Youth League's choice of candidate must be decisive.While some critics may see this 'guided democracy' model as flawed, particularly the Swapo Youth League supporting a single candidate instead of allowing multiple candidates to campaign independently, Ngurare maintained that historical evidence demonstrates its effectiveness. 'The head of NYC has always been from the Swapo Party Youth League. True, this has not always been a unanimous position within SPYL, but at all times, consensus over one candidate within SPYL prevailed,' he said.