23-year-old Namibian woman, Emma Theofilus has been appointed the country’s youngest minister. The appointment of Theofilus by President Hage Geingob as deputy information and technology minister also made her the Southern African country’s youngest member of parliament.
A law graduate, Theofilus was part of president Geingob’s list of eight non-voting members announced on Sunday and sworn Tuesday, The Namibian reports.
According to multiple reports, Theofilus was informed of her appointment through a “surprisingly rare” phone call from the State House that would change her life forever as one of the eight presidential nominees for the country’s national assembly and a deputy minister.
The 23-year-old’s appointment as expected drew a barrage of criticism from the country’s old elites, questioning her capacity and competence—criticisms she has taken coolly and vowed to claim the honor done her.
“I do not think I am special, but I do not think I am inexperienced, and I do not think being young or female has anything to do with my appointment. Anything I set myself to and any environment I want to work into, I can do it; so the issue of inexperience does not hold any water,” said Theofilus as reported by The Namibian.
“I am excited. I am told I will be used as a benchmark for young people. I take on the challenge like I have taken other leadership roles. It is uncharted territory and political space but I am ready to take on the challenge,” she added in a separate interview.
Aware of the expectations that lie ahead, she said she will not go into the ministry thinking “I know it all.”
“So of course the minister, being the head and political appointee, and the deputy minister allow the whole ministerial position to function. It is a supporting role, just like any law has supporting regulations to allow it to function.
“I do not think being a deputy minister is a role that cannot be brought to life, the person should know what they have planned for that position and anybody can do it. It is not an insignificant role,” she added.
Source: Face to Face Africa
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