Letter to editor: Avoid undemocratic gestures 'just to look good'

While we must applaud our leaders' readiness to bring young people into leadership, we need to be mindful of the critical meaning of political leadership in a constitutional democracy – a path that we have chosen. This culture dictates that leaders must be elected, not appointed or thrust upon people just because of age or relations. We are no exception to the rest of the nations that appreciate that politics is about representation: not hand-picked appointments just to look good. We tend to get carried away with ethnic and youth gesturing that is in essence undemocratic in the medium and long terms.

A third-year student plucked out of class and wheelbarrowed into legislative chambers is not a democratic exercise or youth empowerment. Sending children to make laws for the nation is something else. Let students and young people prepare to lead tomorrow and leave lawmaking to politicians who understand the needs of society, ready to change things and govern our national resources better.