WINDHOEK: Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) Secretary for Information and Publicity, Nghiningilwandubo Kashume, has called on the Namibian youth to take an active role in their futures by participating in the upcoming elections. Speaking to Nampa here on Tuesday, Kashume said as the country prepares for the 2024 presidential and national elections, it is important for the youth to acquaint themselves and realise how important it is for them to take part in political decision-making through voting. He said democracy is a new political system in Namibia and many people, especially the youth, do not understand what a multi-party democratic system constitutes. 'By voting it means when the youth is demanding things to be done for themselves, they have done their part… You can't demand a clinic, school, road or housing… basic necessities every citizen of our land requires, if you are saying 'I'm the youth, I don't want to participate in politics',' he stressed. Kashume said RDP is taking part in the electi ons and is scheduled to deliberate on the preparation for internal democratic elections on 24 February 2024, which will be followed by a fourth national convention to elect its national leadership. He further said that RDP will discuss its election manifesto at the upcoming party congress, after which its contents would be made public. 'There has been a tendency in this country where RDP presents its election manifestos and others go and plagiarise it. We don't like it very much, but the time will come when we are ready to present our election manifesto,' he noted. He also called on Namibians to register their current voting cards as most would have expired. 'A number of Namibians are looking forward to the RDP taking part in this election and they are determined. It is encouraging for the RDP's outlook,' he noted. Source: The Namibia Press Agency President of the Independent High Authority for Elections (French:ISIE) Farouk Bouasker said offences reported in the runoff local elections campaign - either common law or election crimes- are essentially committed in the public space in social networks, websites and electronic platforms. These offences will be brought before the public prosecutor, Bouasker told reporters as he visited Tuesday the centre for monitoring the election campaign in dowtown Tunis, pursuant to the principle of equality before the law. These offences having criminal nature include crimes of spreading false news, rumours and slander against public official, i.e. the electoral commission, and public denigration. These offences are either common law or election crimes that are not committed by candidates but by people active on social media and in audiovisual media. Most of these election offences and crimes took place in the public space of social media. Audiovisual media reported the second largest number, followed by print and electronic media. These breaches and crimes also were reported as part of field activities. The ISIE council looks daily at these offences and issues decisions after having them classified as offences or crimes by experts in monitoring units. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse