After three years in the making, legislation for the existing National Youth Council has finally reached the National Assembly, but alert Parliamentarians have already seen a flaw, as the bill only categorises those aged between 16 and 30 as youths.

This is in contradiction to the African Youth Charter, ratified by Parliament a few months ago, which states that people aged between 16 and 35 are regarded as youths.

Swapo Members Juliet Kavetuna and Peya Mushelenga informed the House after Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Willem Konjore tabled the National Youth Council Bill last week that the age limit in the draft should be changed to 35.

"Namibia should thus concur with the African Youth Charter with regard to the age limit," Kavetuna said.

Mushelenga pointed out that the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) should also promote business ventures for young Namibians while the Ministry of Trade and Industry should "ensure the local youth could benefit from existing loan schemes for small and medium enterprises."

According to Minister Konjore, the NYC was established in 1994 already and efforts to draft a bill for the institution started in 2005.

"The new bill will not only create a national youth development agency (fund), but will contribute towards a professionalised youth development sector," he said.

The new draft law provides for regional youth forums in all 13 political regions and at constituency level in all of the country's 107 constituencies.