Rural women parliament charts inclusive future for Namibia
The 8th session of the Rural Women Parliament with Men as Partners has ended in Windhoek with a strong call for inclusive, grassroots-led development that addresses the realities of rural communities across Namibia.
Convened under the theme “Breaking Barriers to Economic Inclusion: Advancing Sustainable Support and Opportunities for Rural Women and Men”, the three-day sitting brought together representatives from all 14 regions.
Delegates debated pressing issues and agreed on a series of resolutions that place gender equality, economic empowerment, and social justice at the centre of rural transformation.
Chairperson Maria Mwala said the session had been “deeply humbling and profoundly inspiring,” pointing to the way women and men came together to find shared solutions.
“Our work does not end here; it begins here,” she said in her closing remarks, urging participants to ensure that commitments made in the chamber are translated into practical action.
Collaboration
One of the strongest outcomes of the debates was a united call to end gender-based violence, with delegates urging greater collaboration between traditional leaders, civil society, and government to provide both prevention and support.
There was also a renewed demand for decentralisation, with pressure on the government to release resources to communities through the Constituency Development Fund so that development is driven by those most directly affected.
Attention was drawn to the vulnerabilities of the boy child, noting that while efforts to empower girls must continue, boys in rural communities are often left without mentorship or support and risk becoming excluded and disconnected.
Priorities
This recognition marked a significant broadening of the Parliament’s agenda, reinforcing the theme of partnership between women and men.
Other priorities included stronger healthcare provision in rural areas, affordable transport, improved water access, better roads, and expanded digital connectivity.
Delegates highlighted that without these foundations, rural communities remain trapped in cycles of exclusion from national progress.
At the same time, they pressed for reforms to open economic opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs, emphasised the importance of climate-smart agriculture, and called for schools and vocational training centres to be strengthened to give young people real pathways to independence.
Mwala expressed gratitude to Vice President Lucia Witbooi, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sankwasa James Sankwasa, and development partners, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Namibian Breweries, and First National Bank, for supporting the session.
Convened under the theme “Breaking Barriers to Economic Inclusion: Advancing Sustainable Support and Opportunities for Rural Women and Men”, the three-day sitting brought together representatives from all 14 regions.
Delegates debated pressing issues and agreed on a series of resolutions that place gender equality, economic empowerment, and social justice at the centre of rural transformation.
Chairperson Maria Mwala said the session had been “deeply humbling and profoundly inspiring,” pointing to the way women and men came together to find shared solutions.
“Our work does not end here; it begins here,” she said in her closing remarks, urging participants to ensure that commitments made in the chamber are translated into practical action.
Collaboration
One of the strongest outcomes of the debates was a united call to end gender-based violence, with delegates urging greater collaboration between traditional leaders, civil society, and government to provide both prevention and support.
There was also a renewed demand for decentralisation, with pressure on the government to release resources to communities through the Constituency Development Fund so that development is driven by those most directly affected.
Attention was drawn to the vulnerabilities of the boy child, noting that while efforts to empower girls must continue, boys in rural communities are often left without mentorship or support and risk becoming excluded and disconnected.
Priorities
This recognition marked a significant broadening of the Parliament’s agenda, reinforcing the theme of partnership between women and men.
Other priorities included stronger healthcare provision in rural areas, affordable transport, improved water access, better roads, and expanded digital connectivity.
Delegates highlighted that without these foundations, rural communities remain trapped in cycles of exclusion from national progress.
At the same time, they pressed for reforms to open economic opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs, emphasised the importance of climate-smart agriculture, and called for schools and vocational training centres to be strengthened to give young people real pathways to independence.
Mwala expressed gratitude to Vice President Lucia Witbooi, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sankwasa James Sankwasa, and development partners, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Namibian Breweries, and First National Bank, for supporting the session.
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