21st-century-namibian-women-politicians

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

"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."

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

"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."

"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."

"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"

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

"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."

"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."

"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."

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

"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."

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

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

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

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

"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."

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

"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."

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

"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."

"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."

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

"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"

"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"

"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"

"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"

"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"

"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 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"

"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"

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

"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"

"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"

"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"

"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"

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

"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"

"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"

"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"

"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"

"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"

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

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