WINDHOEK – The Secretary General of the Pan-Africa Women’s Organisation (PAWO) Nahara Yatima yesterday saluted the Namibian government for its contribution towards the establishment of the continental body’s southern Africa regional headquarters in Windhoek.
“I acknowledge the effort your government put in making sure that the memorandum of understanding was signed,” said Yatima during the opening of the regional headquarters in Windhoek yesterday. She said it is a very emotional experience for her and the organisation is considering opening many more offices to cater for women’s needs on the continent. Yatima singled out the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Rosalia Nghidinwa, for the role she played in getting to what she called a significant day in the history of PAWO. “Thank you for the effort and time during the short period you held this office,” she said, adding that it is very important that women are empowered, since empowering them is to empower the nation. “Women don’t only bear children but build communities, so therefore it is very important that women should be empowered,” she said.
Nghidinwa said Namibia is honoured to host the headquarters. “Women in Africa are the poorest of the poor,” she said, adding that poverty in Africa has a woman’s face. She also emphasised that PAWO supports African women who participated in the liberation struggles of their countries, including Namibia. “When it comes to care work, it is women and girls who take care of the sick, missing out on many opportunities to develop themselves and participate in viable economical projects. Many people think that Africa is now free from colonialism, apartheid and discrimination and PAWO has no more purpose of existence,” she said.
On the contrary, Nghidinwa said, the future of African women in the new global environment needs PAWO even more than before to strengthen its capacity to the face the current and emerging challenges that are facing African women and children. “Beside national independence, many women and children in parts of Africa are still running day and night, they do not know peace, as war still continues,” she added. The minister further said women have to fight harder than men if they are to be considered for positions of authority, be it in politics or management, and even though discrimination is outlawed in many African countries, it is still quietly and subtly working in the system and processes of private institutions. “Many decisions being taken in boardrooms across Africa are still gender blind and do not consider the effects they have on women,” she added.
Kuzeeko Tjitemisa