MP slams government for failing abuse victims

A woman fleeing abuse in Namibia may face a stark choice between returning to her abuser or homelessness, an opposition MP warned on Thursday, describing government’s proposed N$482 million gender budget as “not protection, but systemic failure”.

Speaking during the 2026/27 national budget debate on Thursday, deputy shadow minister of gender equality and child welfare Lucia highlighted there are currently only eight government-run shelters for survivors across the country, with the capacity to accommodate between 120 and 200 survivors annually.

“This means that a woman escaping violence often faces a devastating choice: return to the abuser or face homelessness. That is not protection. That is systemic failure,” she said.

Mbuti stressed that the N$482 million allocation for the ministry falls far short of addressing Namibia’s escalating gender-based violence crisis.

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) parliamentarian said the previous budget of N$473 million had failed to deliver tangible protection on the ground despite increasing reports of violence.

“Gender-based violence continues to rise. Between April 2024 and February 2025, Namibia recorded 4 405 cases of gender-based violence, including 1 345 rape cases,” she said. “These statistics reveal the reality: despite millions spent, violence against women has not decreased.”

She also criticised government for maintaining the vulnerable children’s grant at N$350 per child, saying the amount was insufficient to meet basic needs.

Mbuti further argued that government spending had prioritised awareness campaigns over frontline protection services such as shelters, counselling, and social work support. “Awareness alone does not protect a woman running for her life,” Mbuti told lawmakers.

‘Disturbing reality’

The MP also highlighted growing concerns about child protection, citing police reports of increasing child sexual abuse cases, often involving relatives or carers.

“Children are being abused inside the very homes where they are supposed to be safe. This is one of the most disturbing realities in our country,” she said.

She warned that the development budget for the sector had dropped from N$18.3 million to N$16.3 million, which undermines efforts to expand protection infrastructure. “Budgets must not only fund awareness, but they must also fund protection,” Mbuti said.

She added that subsidies of about N$2 million annually for 18 residential child-care and GBV facilities are woefully insufficient.

Mbuti concluded by rejecting the allocation. “A budget must be judged not by how much money is allocated, but by how many lives it protects. I will not support this budget,” she said.

Restore balance

However, government supporters defended the overall national budget as a balanced approach to economic recovery and social development.

Motivating for the approval of the 2026/27 national budget, MP Gaudentia Kröhne said the spending plan represents a “contract between the state and its people” during a period of fragile economic recovery. “At the heart of this budget is the theme 'People, Productivity, and Prudence’,” she said.

Kröhne said the social sector would remain the largest beneficiary of public spending, receiving N$54.3 billion, or 61.7% of the national budget excluding interest payments.

“By endorsing this budget, we are casting our votes for our people,” she said, noting that N$28 billion would go to education and N$13.1 billion to health services.

The budget also includes an increase of N$100 to the old-age pension and N$1.5 billion in support for veterans. 

“This budget prioritises high-impact investments that will boost the real economy rather than just consumption,” Kröhne said.

“The goal of this budget is to put our debt-to-GDP ratio on a downward trajectory toward the 60% SADC standard and restore a positive primary fiscal balance,” she added.