Ndawedapo Shaanika

As Namibia joins the rest of the world in observing World Bee Day on 20 May, let’s pause to appreciate a small but mighty heroine humming quietly across our landscapes, the African honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata). 

These unsung champions play a vital role in maintaining our biodiversity, supporting agriculture, and securing our food systems.

You may not notice them at first, but bees are nature’s invisible workforce, pollinating everything from wild camelthorn trees to crops like tomatoes, melons, mangoes, and pumpkins. Without them, our diets would be a lot less colourful, and our ecosystems a lot less balanced.

I still remember my first close encounter with bees during a visit to an apiary in the Otavi Mountains. Suited up like a spaceman, I stepped into a world of calm, focus, and quiet industry. 

The gentle hum of thousands of bees moving in harmony was strangely soothing. There’s a kind of magic in watching these creatures go about their work with such purpose. It was like witnessing the heartbeat of nature itself.

Why bees matter

While agriculture continues to be hailed as a national priority, rightfully so, the honeybee often goes unnoticed. Yet from the acacia woodlands of the north to the sun-scorched plains of the Namib Desert, bees ensure the reproduction of indigenous plants and pollinate key crops that support both local farmers and the national food basket. 

This year, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has issued a global call to action: “Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish Us All.” The theme highlights the crucial role pollinators play in sustaining food security, agricultural productivity, and ecological diversity. But our bees are in trouble.

What’s threatening Namibia’s bees?

Despite their hardiness, African honeybee populations are dwindling and under pressure. Urban expansion, deforestation, pesticide use, pests and diseases, all threaten their habitats, while climate change disrupts the natural flowering cycles, reducing and altering the quality and availability of their food source. 

While beekeeping has potential as a sustainable business, Namibia still lacks a robust legal and institutional framework to protect bees and empower beekeepers

How can you help?

Small actions add up. The great news is that you don’t need to become a beekeeper or wear a netted hat to help. Become a supporter of the Beekeeping Association of Namibia, by calling beekeepers to rehome bees instead of killing them. 

Educate your communities about bee preservation and their role in food security and sustainability. Plant indigenous flowers and trees like aloes, and camelthorn to offer bees food and shelter. 

Importantly, reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides in your gardens and your farms. Support your local beekeeper by purchasing ethically sourced Namibian honey, and bee products.

Your future depends on tiny wings

World Bee Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a call to action, a reminder that Namibia’s agricultural future and environmental health, and economic diversification depend on a species most people barely notice. 

So, whether you’re a teacher planting flowers with pupils, a farmer nurturing pollinator-friendly crops, or simply someone enjoying fruit at breakfast, your role in protecting the bees matters. This 20 May, take a moment to thank the bees. Better yet, plant something for them. Because a buzzing garden means a thriving Namibia.

*Find us on Facebook at Beekeeping Association of Namibia or our website www.beekeepingassociation.com.na