Angelika Muharukua

"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."