ONGWEDIVA- Traditional leaders in the northern regions say they support women who give their children their own surnames when the fathers abandon them. They believe this helps children obtain citizenship and access basic services.
They added that it is not wrong for a mother to register her child under her surname, especially when the father is absent, as this allows the child to obtain national documents and enrol in school.
Among those who spoke to New Era were the Senior Headman of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority, Chief Ndilimani Iipumbu, and others.
They were responding to the case of 34-year-old Beata Abraham, who registered her two children under her surname after their fathers disappeared.
Abraham, a resident of Ongwediva, shared her story. She said that despite the difficulties she faced raising her children without their fathers, she remains strong and committed to caring for them. “My firstborn is five years old. When I was pregnant, the father denied responsibility and ran away,” she said.
She said she tried to find him, but could not locate him anywhere. In 2023, Abraham entered another relationship and became pregnant again.
“He ran away when I was four months pregnant. It wasn’t easy for me to go through a second pregnancy by a man who also abandoned me,” she added.
Her youngest child is now two years old.
Abraham said she is happy she registered her children under her surname because they were able to obtain citizenship and are now enrolled in kindergarten.
“What is important is that my children have citizenship. They can receive national services just like any other children in this country,” she said.
Abraham is a woman living with a disability, having suffered a stroke when she was 12 years old.
She was in grade 5 when she experienced the stroke.
Abraham expressed her gratitude to the government, as she receives a disability grant which helps her care for her children.
“With the grant, I’m able to buy food for my children. All of them depend on me, since their fathers are nowhere to be found,” she said.
She also encouraged fellow women not to feel ashamed of giving their children their surnames.
“Don’t be ashamed to put your child under your surname. You are not neglecting the child, you are protecting their rights,” she urged.
Chief Ndilimani Iipumbu said Abraham made the right decision to use her surname so the children could enrol in school.
“It’s important for the well-being of the children. They deserve the right to go to school and to have citizenship,” he said.
Also speaking to New Era, Senior Headman and spokesperson of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, Andrew Naikaku, said it is not wrong for a woman to register a child under her surname.
He explained that in the past, traditional authorities would summon men and question them about pregnancies to establish the truth.
“Nowadays, things have changed. This is why many fathers deny responsibility, and many children are left without recognition from their fathers,” he said.
Naikaku added that more children are now being registered under their mothers’ surnames due to these situations.
On the other hand, he warned that DNA testing is not always a safe solution.
“If a child is taken for DNA testing and the results come back positive, it can lead to violence or even killings,” he cautioned.
He added that several violent incidents have been caused by DNA results or accusations from community members.