21st-century Namibian women politicians

"The provision of the wheelchairs would therefore address some challenges (for the disabled) such as integration into society as well as access to health and basic services and fill other gaps. We cannot talk about inclusivity if we do not empower people, at the grassroots level."

"Training young women in government across Africa is so important because they need to continuously increase their knowledge and skills in order to ensure an effective and more responsive public service."

"It is only through engagement, exposure to services, dialogue, we will enable people with disabilities to influence our development and that of the overall society. The time has come for people with disabilities to pursue leadership and run businesses."

"Failure is not in my vocabulary' s"

"I said yes, yes, he has gone to America, and then later she said he has passed on. I mean, my heart almost stopped. I didn't expect him to pass on so fast. I stopped talking."

"The man was here the other day with his wife, they were very happy, they came a second time, we sat for three hours chatting and talking, and now that I hear he is gone, I am very sad. But then, what do you do? You have no choice"

"When he found me in Nyango, I told him I didn't have a bed, I wanted to be in the camps, but I didn't have a bed, He went to buy me a single bed, and he said because I am a single, small woman."

"The way a few of us are from different countries. He was a very good person to work with; he was very consultative, he met with staff frequently, and he made you feel that you were contributing and that you were still part of the struggle, that you were fulfilling the mission for the liberation of Namibia"

"We, members of staff, were able to see the last batch of our students graduating in a free Namibia. Together with their parents, it was quite an emotional moment, especially for their parents.""

"She lived a short, but rich life and believed in human dignity"

"Failure is not in my vocabulary … I wanted to share my story with young women from Namibia, who want to do something but who may think that it is difficult or that it is only for boys or that it will take long. I wanted to encourage them and tell them that all it needs is focus, determination, courage and discipline"

"CEOs to refuse financial reports that are not factual and send them back to be reworked and also telling local authorities to clean their houses by avoiding infights and mistrust for the betterment of their towns."

"A leader is measured by your consciousness, hence the importance in practicing good governance"

"How do you want to provide leadership to us, if you as regional, local authorities and traditional leaders do not talk at all on matters of national and regional concern."

"before reports are distributed externally, councilors should stud them and ask question about it before presenting it to the councils meeting."

"investors are looking for well-documented and outlined financial reports,"

"The youth who claim to be fighting for land are not doing it in the interest of landless Namibians, but rather for their own “selfish political agendas"

"I know the Namibian youth and those that say they are fighting for land, they are not doing it for the people, they are doing it for positions…. If you look around why don't you see them here? It is because they are fighting for Windhoek land only"

"They are there de-bushing in Windhoek. Why can't they also go to their hometowns and villages and de-bush there? This is why I say they are not fighting the land issue the way they should. The youth wing of Swapo used to fight for development and not what we are currently seeing. They must stop politicising the land issue"

"If you look at the situation in South Africa, Namibia is better off but if we are not careful we will end up like them and we know how it happened there,"

"We should first develop our minds and then we can talk of development"

"This document is thick and people were supposed to have been given this document earlier for them to come prepared which will see meaningful contributions made"

"Kunene is marginalized all the time. The electricity coming from Ruacana via Etoto, those people have not benefited. People in Okahozu and Okaupaue were also supposed to benefit but they did not. There is a need for rural electrification in the region. Most people here are not enjoying the cake of Namibia, only a few have benefited"

"We have a clinics like Etanga and Otjondeka but they have not benefited. Kunene is still in need of rural electrification. Most schools are not electrified, only a few are."

"It is really both a privilege and a delight to have this opportunity of being here at the Southern African Regional Workshop on the Situation of Gender and to have the opportunity of spending a few moments with you this morning, while trying to share some information that would nodoubt be useful in our work."

"I am confident that you will all participate in the information-sharing so that you will eventually come up with tangible recommendations that can be adopted as possible solutions to the problems faced by our women in particular."

"It is a well-known fact that women in most parts of the world face a multitude of injustices, disparities and discrimination, unlike their male counterparts. Women workers, for example, face many barriers on their way to equal participation and leadership because entry to that world is based on credentials– which many women have never obtained."

"As children, they suffer discrimination within their own family, which is followed by a lack of opportunity in education and training. As young women, they suffer the consequences of their lower levels of literacy, education, legal understanding, confidence and awareness by finding only poorly paid jobs that require a low level of skill. As young mothers, they put up with their lack of financial autonomy and free time to honour their family commitments. Constrained by their reproductive role, when they return to part-time employment after a period of motherhood, they frequently experience what is known as downward occupational mobility, and get stuck in lower-grade positions."

"When we come up with programmes aimed at raising awareness on gender equality, it is imperative that we take cognisance of directing these programmes at men: most of them have misunderstood the concept of equality, either intentionally or through ignorance. The idea of the male breadwinner and the female homemaker is still dominant in many societies – and southern Africa is no exception."

"In some countries that have seen a rise of religious fundamentalism, and in others that are experiencing a state of transition, there is evidence of the reinforcement of these traditional attitudes. A prerequisite, therefore, is to raise awareness and to sensitise communities, so that those in decision-making positions in national and local-level government, among employers, in workers’ organisations and in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have the appropriate mindsets and technical capacity to understand and deal with the issues raised above. Indeed, such gender awareness should be introduced as part of general training programmes."

"The programmes should also be aimed at women themselves, especially poor and uneducated women who have been so socialised or bound by a “culture of poverty” that their attitude is one of dependence – rather than of being proactive in order to mobilise themselves for change and progress. In addition, since socialisation begins at home, sensitisation efforts should also target family members and local communities."

"For reasons related to their weak socio-economic positions, women rely on the law and its enforcement. Many countries have sought, through constitutional and other legal instruments including labour codes, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex or to proclaim equality between women and men as a fundamental human right. However, certain classes of workers, such as domestic workers, agricultural workers and those engaged in small enterprises or family undertakings, are often excluded from the scope of application, and women predominate in these categories."

"We should fight for gender equality: for equality between men and women in all areas of life. Equality means an end to domination, and building mutual respect and self respect."

"Today, the inequalities in the socio economic set-up have created further negative consequences when it comes to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is taking its toll on our nation’s productive and reproductive women and men. The disease is preventable, but some cultural beliefs and traditional norms encourage its spread. Women are generally less well-informed than men: the majority of women live in remote rural settings and in poor living conditions where they are less likely to get adequate information about how to protect themselves from unsafe sex, and how to empower themselves to say “No” to sex. Moreover, men continue to have an upper hand on matters of sexual relations."

"The Namibian government attaches great importance to gender issues, with the aim that women can operate on par with their male counterparts. To illustrate this, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare was created, with one of its core functions being the mainstreaming of gender into all government and private institutions."

"These are just some of the Namibian Government’s efforts to enable women to enjoy the benefits of the country they helped liberate."

"Allow me to thank the FES, the organisers of this workshop, for the job well done. I certainly hope this interaction will continue, and that you come up with recommendations that will eventually help us reach our target of 30% representation by women at the forthcoming parliamentary elections. For the visitors, I welcome you all, and at the same time I wish to invite you to take some time off from your busy schedules and explore the beauty of our country and its friendly people."

"I am currently unemployed and unable to pay back the full amount, so I have reached out to her lawyers to agree on a monthly settlement of N$500 per month from April 2023"

"I contacted a lawyer at Sisa Namandje, and Mungunda was served a summons, but did not defend herself. Instead, she visited the office asking to pay N$500 per month."

"Go and do that, I am a lawmaker and you do not have a foot to stand on. I have paid up lawyers with Legal Shield"

"I rise as a straight woman"

"What if it is said we as women sleep with a leader, this is destructive for us women"

"Homosexuals were responsible for the HIV and AIDS pandemic"

"Allow me, on behalf of my delegation, to congratulate you on your election as President of the 61st Session of the General Assembly. I would like to assure you, Madam President, of my delegation's full support and cooperation."

"My delegation is very pleased to participate in this High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. This important forum offers Member States an opportunity to address one of the global challenges facing the world today, the international migration. We welcome the opportunity to discuss and reflect more on these issues which have both common and also different implications for our countries and indeed for the world at large. In this regard, Namibia reiterates its full support for the African Common Position on Migration and Development adopted in Banjul"

"Migration is multi-faceted and complex, affecting and being affected by human security, economic, social and political developments, gender inequality as well as many other processes."

"Therefore, responses to migration must be comprehensive, contextually appropriate and cognizant of both the contribution and effects of migration to development, security and political stability. It is equally important to take into consideration that the majority of migrants worldwide are women and in many places they outnumber male migrants. Gender inequality contributes to the forced migration of women and girls and also to their trafficking."

"The foundation of Namibian immigration policy is our desire to promote development with equity and to manage migration in order to ensure that it contributes to our over-all development objectives and does not undermine the progress we have made so far. We are, therefore, seeking to attract sustainable and suitable investment into the country, importation of specific skills and their transfer to Namibians. We also believe that those who come can learn new skills from us that they will eventually take with them."

"We are realists and therefore recognize that an immigration policy in today's world should also address security concerns of both receiving states and migrants. We will need to find ways to ensure that state security and the obligations to guarantee social, economic, security and safety to its citizens are not compromised."

"We recognise the positive effects that migration can have on economic development of both the countries of origin and the countries of destination. However, we are convinced that the migration of skilled persons presents a drain to the country of origin because it looses the investment made in their training. We therefore hope that this High-level Dialogue will provide us with best ideas that will help us formulate policy guidelines that ensure that brain gain in some countries does not mean brain drain in others. In this regard, we recognize the need for more cooperation between States and nonState actors in maximising development benefits derived from Migration. We welcome the participation of the private sector, non-governmental organisations and civil society in this Dialogue."

"Some migration is fuelled by instability and uncertainty – while many are searching for places where the economic and social conditions are better. Others are simply searching for a place where they can be safe. In the Southern African region the asylum/migration nexus is an increasing problem. Over the last decade and a half or so, Southern Africa was transformed from a sending to a receiving region. Namibia – with its long history of support from the United Nations and its own experiences of exile -continues to respect the institution of asylum and refugee rights. At the same time, we are also seeking to promote voluntary repatriation of those refugees who can return to countries where stability and peace now have returned. In the near future we will also look at the issue of local integration for a tobe-determined number of refugees – long-stayers who no longer have ties to their countries of origin or are unable to return for other reasons, and who can contribute to our national development objectives."

"Namibia along with other African countries has been reviewing legal and normative frameworks to promote safe and managed migration. An important guiding instrument is the SADC Protocol on Facilitation of Movements of Persons and Goods. This instrument however, needs to be buttressed by good practices."

"One of the recommendations of the comprehensive study done by the Global Commission on International Migration calls for bilateral agreements as a means of addressing migration issues that affect two States. In this regard, Namibia has Agreements with our neighbours, Angola and Zambia, to allow communities living along the common border – free movement within limited distance inside each country – with the simple requirement of a border pass. These arrangements encourage cross border time, cultural exchanges and harmonious relations between and among States."

"Finally, Madam President, Namibia hopes that this Dialogue should not be an end in itself but a beginning of multilateral discussions that will help the international community to find solution to this challenge. This Dialogue should also look at the capacity of the receiving State with the view to helping it to better manage the challenge posed by migration. In this regard, the need for technical and humanitarian assistance for the developing countries should be recognized and addressed. In this context, Namibia welcomes and supports the proposal of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to establish an International Forum for Dialogue on Migration and Development."

"I think as Namibians we have very challenging times where as the individual we need to create our own script. How do I want to live? How do I want to contribute"

"We want to unlock the potential of every Namibians through access to foal and informal training opportunities developing the skills,capacity, citizenship and sovereignty of our brave Nation"

"We will set up industry to maximise Namibia's abundant Natural resources, keeping the wealth within the country creating diverse training and employment opportunities"

"Everyone should be entitled to quality healthcare no matter what their budget. We will increase training opportunities and improve hospitals and health centres and access to quality care"

"Safe housing,electricity,a toilet and running water are basic human rights. We will build sustainable low cost housing boosting manufacturing and employment."

"We will prioritise finding long lasting solutions to Ancestral lands and issues of land justice ensuring no communities are left behind. Transparency and integrity will be upheld . We will also protect eco-systems and promote food resiliency"

"Namibia has enough rainfalls to sustain us long into the future. We will manage the rainwater stopping the drought flood cycle so bio-diversity can flourish and all regions can grow Health food."

"Women have taken up their place in the world. Let us continue to embrace equity and shape a world where every woman is empowered to use her capacity to it’s potential."

"You will not reach your destination when you don't know where you are going, you must have fixed thoughts for you to reach your goals. With Netumbo as your vise president targets will be time framed for evaluation into better path,we will raise and fly together."

"In order for you to move forward you need to be surrounded by people with vision not with emotions, you need the by side with solutions not with issues. With Netumbo as your vise president you will have vision and solutions by your side to enable you move forward in life."

"A caterpillar is a slow walker but it keeps moving until it finds a right season that helps it turns into a butterfly. Even you no matter what you are going through don't quit joy is coming,change places, do things over and over again until you find a right season that will make you hetch into a butterfly and fly better."

"Don't allow the pressure of those eating their harvest make you eat your seed."

"When a soldier enters war his priority is not to survive but to assassinate the enemy and he automatically survives. Our target must not be to survive but to encounter poverty and we will be automatically successful."

"USA is the oldest democracy in the world but they only have two political parties"

"The election manifesto prioritizes social development and empowerment for all Namibians. This is why Namibians should vote for SWAPO."

"The party has committed to creating approximately 256,000 jobs over the course of her five-year term."

"These commitments encompass the development of sports infrastructure, career advancement, education, as well as the arts and creative industries."

"To ensure the full implementation of this manifesto by 2030, an action plan will be developed, aligned with a monitoring and evaluation framework."

"There are external forces attempting to destabilize us, but as a nation, the future is in our hands, and unity is the only tool we have to overcome these challenges."

"Women were doubly exploited."

"Traditionally, women were supposed to be confined to the kitchen — that is exploitation. And then they were exploited by the system because it favored men over women."

"There were military vehicles with people tied to the exhaust pipes, dragging them to death."

"They would come at night and harass us before school started. Then they would go into the classrooms with their weapons and kick out the teachers to disrupt the school. We were so scared."

"Imagine that kind of resolve — not telling your mother you are leaving your family and fleeing the country."

"There is a greater truth than mine, there is a truth of Namibian History… I was there also. This is my story."

"This book is dedicated to the women who made me what I am today. My maternal great grand mother, my Herero and Damara grandmothers Metha Ngatjikare and Christofine Gamamus both of whom lived during the German occupation and gave birth to children whose fathers were German, and who were forced by German and South African occupation to bring up these children on their own. And despite these challenges these children made history in their own right."

"My wonderful mother, Charlotte Schimming, my role model, who taught her daughters to always recognize their own work never to feel inferior to anybody be they white or male."

"And to my father Otto Ferdinand Schimming the greatest gender sensitive man I have ever known whose contribution to the struggle for the liberation of my people remains unwritten."

"I was born on the 2nd of December 1940 (or so we all agreed) until I was twenty years old when we realized that that was the birth date of my late brother Norman who died before I was born and in whose memory was named Nora."

"So I celebrated my 21st birthday on the 1st of December, for the first time. I was the 5th of eight children, four boys and four girls."

"As has been and still is the practice in our black communities, we were not the only ones. My cousins, the sons of my maternal aunts, Mamma Goka and Mamma Grete, as well as the son of my uncle Rudolf, my aunt Huldà Kamboi Ngatjikare and a distant cousin Ismael Tjombe formed part of the nuclear family. Apart from us, my parents brought two young boys, Filemon and Josef to help in the house."

"I grew up in this large family with the good and the bad and yet looking back seventy plus years, the good memories are clear in my mind whereas the bad ones seem to have disappeared into oblivion."

"My mother did not believe in ‘I am the person, I can do that’, she was a very strong willed, active woman, and she wouldn’t accept ‘no’ as an answer, and she wouldn’t just give up, she’ll go as far as she can.”"

"She made it always look as if my father was the boss, but even if it came to petty cash, my mother used to hold the purse"

"I see my task as presenting Namibia as a young democratic African country which, under Your Excellency’s able leadership, is bent on promoting the welfare of all Namibians. I am departing for my new post at a time of great drought in our country. Seeking solutions to and assistance for this dilemma will be my first - albeit not my sole - preoccupation."

"My focus will be on development - promoting investment and increasing trade between Namibia and Germany. Tourism, Comrade President, is another area which promises increased revenue for our country, and it is here that Your Excellency’s Embassy in Germany can play a vital role in bringing more tourists to Namibia"

"Shortage of manpower, security equipment, uniforms, transport, and accommodation are some of the critical challenges we are faced with, which often negatively impact the morale of these officers"

"It is indeed a good strategic initiative that addresses the acute shortage of staff in the Department and the Ministry in general"

"You have learned to navigate the complexities of the correctional system with resilience and dedication. But beyond the technical aspects of your training, what truly sets you apart is your ability to transform lives"

"In total, the ministry has 106 facilities that are connected to the e-birth notification system, as well as 128 facilities that are connected to the e-death notification system. This will enable our citizens to access public services efficiently and promptly"

"Applicants must take note that one can collect his or her ID at the office where he or she indicated to collect it; alternatively, one can also request the ID card to be transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs office in their respective region"

"Over the last 33 years, many countries that Namibia has exempted from visa requirements have not yet reciprocated our goodwill. The reasons for not returning the goodwill remain unknown,” Witbooi said during the Cabinet committee briefing"

"We have also noted how in 2012 the Canadian government and in 2023 the British government imposed visa requirements on all Namibian passport holders, despite initially reciprocating by removing visa requirements for Namibians"

"The courts must send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will face the full consequences of the law"

"To see this bond violated in such a grotesque manner is both shocking and heartbreaking"

"It is essential that these children receive the necessary trauma counselling and physical care to help them recover from the emotional and psychological scars inflicted upon them"

"Drug and alcohol addiction is a global problem. The ways in which governments around the world react offer a plethora of new ideas on helping addicts, removing stigma and starving the markets exploiting vulnerable people"

"This should be the main premise of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. It is therefore high time that the government ensure all people have access to the needed promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services of sufficient quality to be effective, while ensuring this does not expose the user to financial hardships"

"It is completely unacceptable for the National Assembly to have principally agreed to the withdrawal of the land bill on the basis that it would be discussed after the Second National Land Conference"

"This assembly represents a unique opportunity to chart a collective course for the future of information and communication technology (ICT) in Namibia"

"We know that ICT will be the cornerstone of tomorrow’s society. Therefore, it is the tool through which we can bridge gaps, create opportunities and inspire a new generation filled with hope and optimism"

"This year’s summit must be a high-level event where we reach a consensus on key issues"

"We were the first country in Southern Africa to launch 3G and 4G. We were on track to be the first country in Africa to launch 5G, but because of COVID-19, and because of the conspiracy theories around 5G, that was put on the back burner for a little bit"

"But the potential of 5G extends beyond just sports. We're looking at education, health, and mining. We have oil and gas as a new industry because we recently discovered oil"

"But of course, conditions vary depending on whether we’re talking about 3G or 4G. At 4G, we're at about 79%. But with 5G coming into the picture, every single network tower needs to be upgraded"

"E-government requires citizens’ trust. My takeaway is that we (first) need to win the citizens’ trust if we are going to successfully implement e-e-government programmes."

"Emma Theofelus on E government"

"It is a place where ancient traditions co-exist with a rapidly- evolving modern world. These indigenous natural resources are in demand and are often part of the ingredients in food, supplements, cosmetics and medicines"

"Our equipment aid scheme is designed to help you acquire modern technological equipment that can transform your business processes, leveraging our traditional knowledge and resources. We need to focus on mechanising certain business activities to enhance capacity and promote growth"

"Our EAS is aimed at providing our entrepreneurs with productive technology, while our Industrial Upgrading and Modernisation Program (IUMP) is not only geared towards the provision of technology but also to capacitate our business community with business management skills"

"Through Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), indigenous peoples and local communities can secure fair monetary compensation from business partners utilizing valuable resources like marula oil, mangetti, devil’s claw, and many others"

"Currently, there is a support programme where the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is in collaboration with Agribank where a no collateral loan of an amount of N$ 200 000 is available for all resettled farmers who opt to make use of the facility"

"The current arrears of this revolving fund facility are standing at the staggering figure of 48% of arrears. Despite the arrears, the ministry is in discussion with Agribank to look into the possibility of increasing the current amount of N$200 000 to N$500 000 without a collateral"

"To address the issue of water scarcity, the ministry has acquired a fleet of drilling rigs to improve water supply by drilling boreholes in the resettlement farms. However, we must understand that the water scarcity in our country is a challenge since Namibia is a semi desert country. Another challenge is the insufficient budget which limits the ministry to offer all the required support to the resettlement beneficiaries"

"We need inputs from all our stakeholders to finalise the regulations. Both small-scale communal farmers and large-scale commercial farmers play an essential role in Namibia’s socio-economic development, and their voices must be heard"

"Gazetting the regulations will enable us to enforce and facilitate the registration of seed producers, processors, and dealers, as well as control seed imports and exports"

"Ideally, all vacant positions should be advertised in local media to ensure that Namibians, who meet minimum requirements from all corners of the country, have an equal employment opportunity"

"We expect all oil industry players to comply with these provisions. Our local content policy will just fortify the existing local content provisions. The aim is not only to align our local content policy with international best practices but also to deliver more business and more jobs for our people"

"The discovered oil and gas should be exploited in such a manner to make Namibia energy independent, and we should strive to ensure that oil and gas production does not distort our country’s economy"

"We need to decide where we want to go. Are we going to sit down and wait to be told there is oil that can be produced commercially, and then we start planning, or are we going to plan as if there is oil?” Uaandja questioned"

"By developing these industries in Namibia, we can create jobs, boost our economy and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change"

"We already have a strong mining industry and by building on this foundation, we can lead the way in producing green materials that are in high demand worldwide. The government and Ministry of Mines and Energy, in particular, need to ensure that our laws and policies support the growth of these new industries"

"Stop it. Leave our candidate. It must end in Otjiwarongo. You are busy discussing her and her vehicle. It must stop you witches. Leave the servant, who is here chosen by God and by the hand of man, to serve. Leave our candidate alone. Stop it with immediate effect"

"I want to tell you witches that it must stop here; it must come to an end. Leave the presidential candidate alone"

"Leave the servant who is chosen by God and by men"

"Stop it with immediate effect. It must be the last time I am hearing this"

"My brothers and sisters, you have done a great job to come back to your party, the party of your ancestors. Mind you, it was here in Kavango by then that most of the liberation struggle stewards came from this region. Therefore, you have just done a good job to return to the party of your ancestors"

"You must not move out of your party; you must make sure at your section, branches and districts that you ask your leaders to provide you with the constitution of the party so that going forward, you adhere to the position of the Swapo Party"

"All of you, please know that we have one task, and our task as Swapo Party is to defend our candidate, comrade Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, come 27 Novembe"

"Why allow yourself to get pregnant if you are not ready to have a child?"

"Please use condoms and visit family planning clinics"

"Family planning is not only for women, it is for both men and women, and even for young boys"

"It is our goal that we shall improve the lives of all Africans through this partnership, as women need to drive the engine of partnership in order to achieve the maximum impact of growth needed in Africa"

"Yes, the prayer day did not help and things did not change, but the prayers will continue and we will give GBV cases to God to deal with, because He sees the inside of a person and can understand them better than we do,” said Nghidinwa"

"The youth should be encouraged to study social work to assist in dealing with GBV. There is a huge gap that needs to be filled in this regard"

"I was told that my community are the people that hold the table which I stood on, and because I had known them and had always looked after them from where I was, I know now that I will fall back into their open arms"

"The Swapo Party has already implemented gender equality in its structures and soon it will be compulsory for all political parties to do so, according to the SADC Protocol on Gender"

"Greenhouse plastic roofing is not durable enough to withstand strong winds (especially in the South) as a result they are constantly being blown off and breaking up"

"Imagine, nowadays, you find a three-month-old baby being raped by an uncle, by a brother, by a father, by a niece or cousin or whatever. Does it mean that she asked for it?"

"We are appealing to the Namibian nation to allow our women, our brothers, our men to walk freely in the streets, and our kids to play freely without being disturbed with these rape issues"

"I managed to guide the new councillors in the right direction. That contributed to the smooth running of the council, because I have this experience from the previous council"

"I would rather talk about what I learnt from the whole process. Public participation is critical in ensuring social cohesion and development"

"It [the festival] has been commercialised, and the ordinary resident on the street frankly does not benefit from it"

"The event truly has become a catalyst for tourism growth benefits, not only for formal businesses, but for SMEs as well"

"The majority of the regional council supported the motion, but referred it to the local authority"

"This is not a gimmick, but an economic necessity for most vulnerable members of our society"

"In many cases the elderly have to sleep outside the NamPost building (the only payout point) just to be first in the line to receive their grants. This is unacceptable"

"An LPM-led regional government shall give title deeds to all so-called illegal plot owners in urban areas in the first 100 days after winning elections"

"We will address this thorny issue with urgency"

"Thank you, thank you so much for the opportunity in giving me you[r] blessing in serving you"

"The development and empowerment of our communities in our region and constituency is my number one duty"

"Out of the applications received, only two applicants were successfully allotted farming units for resettlement purposes"

"The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, is supporting the drought-affected farmers by implementing a livestock support intervention of subsidised activities, such as livestock marketing, lease of grazing, fodder and transport to and from grazing areas. In this regard, a total of 156 applicants were received and processed"

"The target for construction of houses under the Windhoek Housing Programme, formally the Council Housing Programme, was 60 houses. A total of 8 houses were constructed in Khomasdal to test the approach and take lessons. The remaining 52 houses were not constructed due to a lack of funds"

"This shows us that we cannot rely on the importation of seeds for staple food crops and high-value crops from other countries. It is notable that the Seeds and Seeds Varieties Act (Act No. 23 of 2018) was indeed promulgated over five years ago, but it has not yet been gazetted into operation by the minister of agriculture, water and land reform through notice in the gazette"

"The Namibian Seed Policy, which is a comprehensive framework to facilitate the advancement of a thriving and robust seed industry, emphasises the importance of seed. Seed is the most important agricultural input out of all important inputs"

"Many young people have an aptitude for business, they have the talent, skills, ideas, and brilliance – all ingredients to build a successful business. They simply do not have the funding or the degree"

"The DBN has provided crucial financial support to young entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses. Additionally, the government has also introduced various training programmes and mentorship initiatives to help SMEs grow and succeed in a competitive market"

"The principles of GYRB transform financial planning, ensuring that allocations consider the unique needs of women and young people. This means that we look at every line of our budget through a lens that considers the diverse needs of different genders, but most importantly, those of young people"

"This budget stands as a testament to our government’s profound commitment to fostering the well-being and future prospects of the Namibian youth. By strategically allocating funds, the budget addresses critical areas directly impacting young individuals, reflecting a genuine concern for their welfare"

"The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has to conduct research on the validity of the marriage. This period allows sufficient time for any necessary background checks and verifications to take place, ensuring the integrity of the marriage process"

"I think the three-month window is a reasonable compromise that supports both administrative efficiency and the couple’s need for preparation"

"The main thing here is not to expose people, but I want to say it is more than creating a platform. Because duplication is a waste of resources that we do not have in this country"

"When I came into that office, I could see that competition between the ministry and the NYC. Because the ministry is having the money, the NYC is having the idea. It was a battle. It stayed like that for nearly four years and I left it like that. I wonder if it succeeded"

"The NYC is having a better structure that is recognised by many institutions that is giving our youth the opportunity to become banks that are having credibility"

"Our mandate as a ministry is to provide healthcare, but unfortunately we have different ways of carrying out this mandate"

"In Cuba, they do not have private hospitals because they believe that when it comes to healthcare, there is no class"

"Most of the leukaemia cases start with bone ache, where the child just does not want to walk. Most of the time, parents and caretakers will notice lumps in the abdomen, testes and glands"

"The two of us used to dance in public without listening to opinions of people about us dancing"

"He ensured a sustained increase in women’s participation, inclusivity and influence within Swapo through advocacy, lobbying and a campaign of inclusion of women in development"

"I attribute smart works of the first lady of Namibia’s office to the eagle of the eye of the Presidency when identifying the talents"

"We must stop buying favours, comrades. Why must you give a regional coordinator something, who is already receiving kasomething? Yet, as you can see, this comrade at the section level is not receiving an allowance from the Swapo Party. Is that not favours? Why must you send airtime to a comrade who is already receiving airtime? But your district information and mobilisation officer is not getting anything"

"You tell everyone, and I must tell you, that some political parties are going to die very soon in Kunene region"

"As we celebrate African women’s contributions towards political, socio-economic, cultural and religious empowerment, the contributions and aspirations of Meekulu Putuse Appolus and other women should be celebrated too"

"Let us also appreciate the Namibian women who participated in resisting the German conquest and all other colonial rule"

"As an elected public leader and in the spirit of the principle of good governance, public scrutiny, public accountability and personal integrity, I feel duty-bound to request your office to investigate the purported allegations as reported in the media for the past four months"

"The Festive Season is a time for people to get together with family and friends, and a time to care and think about others, especially those who are less fortunate and who find the festive season more painfull than cheerful"

"Somebody has not been doing their job since 2006. I know it’s not all of them but those who are not doing their job should be penalised. Officials should be punished when they don’t do their work"

"If you did not do your work, tough luck, we are going ahead with development"

"There are times when there are appointments with the municipality which coincide with meetings at Home Affairs. What you do is you tend to sacrifice one of them"

"In response to curbing GBV, the MGEPESW has various programmes in place which are continuously implemented. These programmes aim to create awareness, widening people’s knowledge of GBV, encouraging them to report this crime, and avoiding becoming perpetrators. Additionally, there are initiatives that help address the root causes of GBV by empowering those who are victims"

"We need to strengthen measures aimed at addressing women’s and girls’ barriers to digital inclusion. We need to encourage gender-balanced cross-functional innovation and involve women and girls in ICT at all levels in order for us to achieve our desired goals on gender equality"

"There is therefore, a need to strengthen our efforts to achieve Gender Equality for a sustainable tomorrow. A gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education can help us to increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement"

"This implies that although women constitute the majority of media students, they are under-represented in employment and managerial positions in media houses and this is an indication of the entry barriers that women face in the media profession"

"We are now looking at interventions to make sure much of what we process is grown locally, has value-added locally, and is distributed locally"

"We also passed a policy last year and are busy with a law that is about to be enacted for special economic zones. We will then be able to designate specific areas in specific regions for specific industrial activities in manufacturing and the biggest sectors of our economy – mining, fishing, agriculture. We have looked at the specific areas and designated them for their competitive advantage"

"We are currently in the process of preparing to participate in the guided trade initiative, whereby we will send off the first consignment for Namibia under the AfCFTA in October 2024 to signify the commencement of trading under the AfCFTA"

"It also liberalises services and aims to tackle non-tariff barriers which hamper trade between African countries, such as long delays at the border"

"Namibia is ready to tap into a single market of about 1,3 billion people, while growing at home and industrialising the local economy to produce goods and services with which to trade"

"The ministry has put in place the requisite legal and regulatory building blocks to fully industrialise Namibia; to strengthen its trade both locally, regionally, continentally and globally; and to vigorously enable small and medium enterprises to develop and flourish"

"My original aims haven't changed and will not change. The main aim of this business is to supply locally and internationally if resources will be available one day. Second, it is to be one of the leading organic farmers in the country and offer training to other farmers."

"As a child born and raised in a village, my parents taught me from early years that growing your own food is important, because you will never go to bed hungry. They also used to tell me that land is very important in one’s life, because you can build your home on it and eat from it."

"Housing, as a human rights issue, should be treated with utmost urgency and commitment by the local authorities."

"We do not work to be acknowledged, but to be acknowledged for doing the work you love is a different kind of blessing. This is my first international humanitarian award."

"I am really passionate about public health, and assisting people from poor backgrounds and the north was a better fit for me."

"Being a confident orator has gotten me into rooms I’ve only dreamt of. How you speak changes everything."

"The aim is to establish the largest public speaking school in the world and train the world’s greatest speakers."

"The emergence of social media platforms like Clubhouse has reiterated the importance of speech, a social media platform where all that matters is what you say and how you say it has reminded many that public speaking is of utmost importance."

"I am still trying to process this award. I’m still in awe. Hearing the news that I had won the award was a cherished but emotional moment. It has been years of hard work, sleepless nights and a lot of mental exhaustion."

"I am beyond thrilled and we are honoured to accept the award! Like I always say, we do not do the work in order to be awarded but to be awarded for doing the work we love is a different kind of blessing. We are immensely grateful. When I say we, I mean my entire team and everyone that has been involved in my journey as a Healthcare advocate and humanitarian. The doctors that went before me and took the time to teach me what it means to be a good doctor, my mentor, my family and friends but most importantly, God. I’m excited for what the future holds for me and the millions of lives we are yet to save."

"We should continue to find lasting solutions to ensure that peace and security prevail in our region, for without peace, there would be no regional integration for development."

"Our collective mission is clear: to advance Namibia’s international relations while fostering economic and trade partnerships that drive sustained economic growth and sustainable development."

"For us to access African and global markets, the private sector must manufacture and produce goods and services for export. We cannot be the only ones importing."

"We need to see more exports under these agreements, including the participation of SMEs, women, and youth, especially in the production of diverse goods."

"We must vigorously secure market access for our goods and services to create growth at home."

"The expectations of our people for improved service delivery, especially in the rural areas, are real and very high. Let us seize this opportunity to continue building a ministry that not only strengthens Namibia’s global engagements but also delivers tangible benefits for our nation’s economic growth"

"This new structure is more than just a name change. It is a repositioning of Namibia in a fast-changing world."

"We must enhance visibility, respond decisively where our positions are misrepresented, and ensure Namibians from rural communities to the diaspora feel the impact of our work."

"We are responsible for creating market access for the products we produce in Namibia and the services we offer. We are also responsible for bringing foreign direct investment into the country."

"Our continental leaders and current leadership have noted with concern that Africa is falling behind. When we export our timber, neglect our agricultural products, or overlook the innovative potential of our young people, we create opportunities for others to benefit from what should be ours."

"This shows that our people are eager to produce, but they face significant challenges that limit both their potential and that of their regions’ competitive advantages."

"The role of the government will remain a facilitating one, as the success of Namibia’s economic ambitions depends on collaborative efforts across sectors."

"Namibia, the first African country to export beef to China, is now advancing protocols for the export of lamb, goat meat, seafood and table grapes."

"No country can achieve sustainable progress in isolation. Global challenges and opportunities require collaborative approaches."

"No country is too small to contribute to peace and sustainable development, and none is too powerful to act alone."

"Namibia places the welfare of our people at the centre of our work by optimising economic diplomacy."