From the ballot box to real protection for Namibian women
Namibian women have spoken—and they have done so in numbers. According to the Electoral Commission of Namibia, women accounted for 54% of registered voters in the 2024 national elections. That’s more than 784,000 women who participated in shaping this country’s future. Yet, despite this remarkable civic engagement and our progressive political landscape—where women hold a majority in Parliament—Namibian women continue to die at the hands of violence. They remain disproportionately affected by inequality, insecurity, and a lack of meaningful protection.
Our daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends are not safe. No matter how many laws we pass, protests we stage, or promises we make, the painful truth remains: Namibian women are dying, and the system is still failing them.
It has been just over a month since the tragic case of Faibians and !Kharuxas. Since then, reports of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have tripled. Every day, more cases are added to the list, each a reminder of how urgent this crisis has become.
Namibia has made notable progress over the years. Women now hold more than 60% of parliamentary seats. We have key pieces of legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Combating of Rape Act, as well as a dedicated ministry for gender equality and child welfare. The 2025 State of the Nation Address by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed commitments to end gender-based violence. And yet, these efforts have not translated into safety. This shows that it is not a lack of policy or awareness that is killing women—it is the persistent failure to implement these policies fully and effectively.
Names like Maasdorp, Faibianu, Stoffels, !Kharuxas, Seibes, Ujaha, and Wasserfall are not just headlines. They were young people full of promise, whose lives were violently cut short. Their deaths are not isolated events—they constitute a national emergency. Behind each name lies a story forever altered. While the task team appointed by the President is a step in the right direction, it cannot be the end. If we are to honour the victims and protect those still at risk, we need bold and immediate action.
Drawing from insights gained during a recent webinar I hosted under the African Union Students’ Platform, here are three urgent steps Namibia must take:
Declare a crisis and mobilise society
Femicide must be declared a national emergency. This would trigger coordinated action across sectors—health, education, justice, and security. But systemic change also starts at the community level. We need safe spaces, accessible counselling, legal support, and protection services in schools, hospitals, churches, and homes. Ending femicide is not just about arrests—it demands a cultural shift, one where harmful gender norms are dismantled and men and boys are actively part of the solution.
Strengthen enforcement and track the crisis
Namibia has made strides in tightening bail conditions and introducing minimum mandatory sentences for gender-based crimes. But implementation is inconsistent. We must fast-track legal reforms and establish specialised GBV courts in every region. A national Femicide Watch—an independent body that collects, analyses, and publicly reports on gender-based killings—must be created. Transparent data is essential for prevention. We must expose systemic failures and harmful cultural practices that perpetuate violence and hinder justice.
Reinforce systems and mainstream prevention
GBV Protection Units are vital, but they must be fully staffed, properly equipped, and sensitised to respond with urgency, empathy, and respect—not judgment or delay. Gender-based violence is interconnected with poverty, education, housing, and land access. Our national development strategies must incorporate GBV prevention across all sectors. Only then can we address the root causes and build a society that is safer and more equitable for all.
Conclusion
Namibian women are voting. They are leading. But they are also dying. One femicide is one too many. We cannot continue to lose lives to a system that says all the right things but does far too little. It is time to bridge the gap between political participation and the real, effective protection of fundamental human rights.
Our daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends are not safe. No matter how many laws we pass, protests we stage, or promises we make, the painful truth remains: Namibian women are dying, and the system is still failing them.
It has been just over a month since the tragic case of Faibians and !Kharuxas. Since then, reports of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have tripled. Every day, more cases are added to the list, each a reminder of how urgent this crisis has become.
Namibia has made notable progress over the years. Women now hold more than 60% of parliamentary seats. We have key pieces of legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Combating of Rape Act, as well as a dedicated ministry for gender equality and child welfare. The 2025 State of the Nation Address by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed commitments to end gender-based violence. And yet, these efforts have not translated into safety. This shows that it is not a lack of policy or awareness that is killing women—it is the persistent failure to implement these policies fully and effectively.
Names like Maasdorp, Faibianu, Stoffels, !Kharuxas, Seibes, Ujaha, and Wasserfall are not just headlines. They were young people full of promise, whose lives were violently cut short. Their deaths are not isolated events—they constitute a national emergency. Behind each name lies a story forever altered. While the task team appointed by the President is a step in the right direction, it cannot be the end. If we are to honour the victims and protect those still at risk, we need bold and immediate action.
Drawing from insights gained during a recent webinar I hosted under the African Union Students’ Platform, here are three urgent steps Namibia must take:
Declare a crisis and mobilise society
Femicide must be declared a national emergency. This would trigger coordinated action across sectors—health, education, justice, and security. But systemic change also starts at the community level. We need safe spaces, accessible counselling, legal support, and protection services in schools, hospitals, churches, and homes. Ending femicide is not just about arrests—it demands a cultural shift, one where harmful gender norms are dismantled and men and boys are actively part of the solution.
Strengthen enforcement and track the crisis
Namibia has made strides in tightening bail conditions and introducing minimum mandatory sentences for gender-based crimes. But implementation is inconsistent. We must fast-track legal reforms and establish specialised GBV courts in every region. A national Femicide Watch—an independent body that collects, analyses, and publicly reports on gender-based killings—must be created. Transparent data is essential for prevention. We must expose systemic failures and harmful cultural practices that perpetuate violence and hinder justice.
Reinforce systems and mainstream prevention
GBV Protection Units are vital, but they must be fully staffed, properly equipped, and sensitised to respond with urgency, empathy, and respect—not judgment or delay. Gender-based violence is interconnected with poverty, education, housing, and land access. Our national development strategies must incorporate GBV prevention across all sectors. Only then can we address the root causes and build a society that is safer and more equitable for all.
Conclusion
Namibian women are voting. They are leading. But they are also dying. One femicide is one too many. We cannot continue to lose lives to a system that says all the right things but does far too little. It is time to bridge the gap between political participation and the real, effective protection of fundamental human rights.
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