Windhoek
A woman from Kavango East Region says there are several women from her region who have taken out overdrafts to fly to Nigeria to seek spiritual help from so-called ‘prophets’.
The woman, a participant at the 9th Namibian Women Summit in Windhoek that ended on Friday, preferred not to be named. However, she brought the matter to the attention of the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Christine //Hoebes, who delivered the opening remarks at the gathering on behalf of Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
The woman said it would be beneficial if women rather used the money they borrow from banks to attend summits,
instead of flying abroad to see ‘prophets’ for prayers and healing, because when they come back home their problems invariably still persist.
“Family members are sometimes involved. When they come back you don’t see the changes, in fact things become worse. They are stressed because they struggle to pay back their overdraft, that’s why I brought it up with the deputy minister,” said the summit participant, adding that some women get bank overdrafts of N$20 000 and more.
She asked the deputy minister her advice on how women can convince their partners to support them in their development.
//Hoebes replied that the government cannot regulate how people practise their religion.
“I believe in the power of prayer, I am a prayerful woman and believe that it can change things. Desperation will make you do irresponsible things … some women are desperate to keep their husband and house intact,” she said, adding that some people believe if they visit a certain prophet they will be helped.
“Let us be wise. I don’t want to say don’t go to Nigeria. But be wise … what difference did you see when you went to Nigeria? Why can’t you use your pastors or colleagues and pray together?” she asked.
She added that flying to Nigeria means “a big chunk from a person’s budget as accommodation, transport and food need to be paid for”.
“You go to Nigeria and your problems are not answered and you sit with a big debt. But again the government can’t say how you should use your money.”
//Hoebes further said there should also be a men’s forum for men to discuss how not to feel threatened or intimidated by the achievements of their wives.
“If you want the support of your husband make him feel like he is the initiator even if you are the one,” she advised. She said women should be humble and “your husband must have confidence in what you are doing and see growth in whatever efforts you make”.
//Hoebes said Namibia’s high unemployment rate is partly caused by the education system which sends Grade 10 failures to the streets with no skills.
“But again, no country has proven to have a 100 percent employment rate,” she stated.
She asked why don’t women rather use overdrafts to start a business and employ people who end up having to feed their relatives. “If you are waiting for government to create jobs, you will wait for a long time.”
Women’s Action for Development (WAD) national training coordinator Absai Kashululu, who also attended the summit, said women should stop having seminars on their own. “It is important if the organizers choose certain slots within their programmes to accommodate men to answer questions like the one asked by the participant, on how men can support their partners. A man will answer it better,” said Kashululu.