After the country gained independence in 1990, one of the items on the agenda was to promote women’s equality and equity, something that seemed challenging to achieve.
However, those given that responsibility ensured that it was not just a dream. One cannot discuss equality and equity without appreciating the artistic contributions of women, which later evolved into the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare. As the government’s efforts toward equality intensified, it eventually established an inclusive Ministry that addresses the affairs of both men and women so that the country can effectively achieve gender equality and ensure that the welfare of boys and girls is balanced. The positive news of an incoming female President is not only exciting for many women in the nation but also motivates those in politics to believe in their work and be reminded that hard work and determination are the keys to success.
However, there are challenges and critics in the political arena that can dampen hopes, especially when one is not fulfilling one’s responsibilities and fails to prioritise national development agendas.
The good thing about the incoming president is that she has experienced life during and after colonial times, placing her at an advantage to continue where the late Founding Father Sam Nujoma, former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, and the late president Hage Geingob left off.
Nonetheless, we commend President Nangolo Mbumba for his brief tenure in Hage’s substantial role. All eyes and hopes are now on the incoming President—a perfect opportunity to distinguish between women’s and men’s leadership. However, the goal is to enhance the Namibia we all wish to see. As the third elected female President, her election indicates that most Namibians are eager to experience women’s leadership.
For one to succeed in leadership, it requires the effective implementation of government programs and projects, which can be achieved through regular monitoring of individuals assigned to various government departments to ensure they influence the timely completion of tasks and prevent implementers from diverting important programs/projects for personal gain rather than public interest.
As for a female President, expectations may be high, particularly regarding combating corruption to prevent the country from becoming a playground for corrupt leaders, especially in public entities. She may need to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Currently, corruption remains a significant issue among many leaders, where they perceive power as a tool for theft despite their lucrative salaries, a mentality that hinders development in our communities.
Therefore, the incoming President needs to be firm with those individuals who hold power, as entrusted by the Constitution. There are rumors surrounding the incoming president, suggesting that she is a problem-solver, leading many to believe her term may end positively for fighting corruption in the nation. This is also the ideal time for Swapo to regain its prominence and develop leaders who do not make promises they cannot keep, especially when addressing the needs of informal settlements where the majority of women reside. This means they struggle to respond effectively to government calls to participate in income-generating activities.
Nevertheless, there are unresolved issues that frustrate many citizens, namely unemployment, poverty, and gender-based violence (GBV).
These issues are interconnected and require strategic approaches to effectively mitigate them. For example, if individuals pay to secure a job, it signals to our leaders that unemployment cannot be easily reduced in such an environment, particularly among individuals from poor households who already struggle to make ends meet. Poverty continues to affect many families despite the government’s provision of safety nets—a situation that needs to be addressed effectively. Additionally, GBV cases are on the rise, despite the efforts of the government and its partners.
Your excellency, empowering women is essentially empowering the majority within and beyond their families, as they can extend their support to those in need.
Hence, leaders need to remember that they should not have excessive loyalty to the political parties they represent but rather prioritise the well-being of the Namibian community above all else, a sentiment that can be reflected through effective service delivery in all communities. Enough with emphasising a few pressing issues; this is the perfect time to recognise that these challenges may soon be a thing of the past as the country welcomes its first woman president on 21 March 2025.
It is also the ideal moment to encourage her Excellency to lead our nation peacefully and ensure that any mineral resources extracted from Namibia benefit all Namibians.