Namibia’s law states that abortion is legal in cases of rape, incest, or where continuing the pregnancy would threaten the mental or physical health of the mother, or the life of the mother or foetus. The Maputo Protocol, which should form part of Namibia’s domestic law, says the same thing. It also says that African women have the right to choose how many children they have, when they have them,… Keep Reading
We need to make teenage pregnancy a men’s issue
Rosemary Nalisa The high incidence of teenage pregnancies in the country, and the Zambezi Region in particular, has become a matter of concern for the community and men in the area are calling for the focus and conversation to shift and include the boy-child and men in general. Some of the factors contributing to teenage pregnancies have been identified as structural poverty, disorganised or poor hostel facilities at the various… Keep Reading
Abuse thrives in makeshift hostels
Rosemary Nalisa For many learners in the Zambezi Region, access to education is limited by an incredibly practical hurdle: distance. These learners have to decide whether to stay home with their parents or guardians, or find accommodation at schools kilometres away in hopes of accessing better education. ‘Home service’ facilities are common in the rural areas of the region where they serve as accommodation facilities for learners whose homes are… Keep Reading
A teacher’s dilemma: “we have become midwives to these kids”
Rosemary Nalisa Teachers at several secondary schools in the Zambezi region have termed the teenage pregnancy situation as a “time-bomb” that needs to be remedied as soon as possible before it completely explodes. A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity pointed to unsupervised makeshift hostels – dubbed ‘home service’ – and poverty as contributing factors. This teacher claims his school usually records between four to six teenage pregnancies among… Keep Reading
Teenage pregnancy: when grandparents carry the burden
The adage “education is key to success” is a phrase emphasised amongst all sectors of society in the Zambezi region battling to reduce rising numbers of teenage pregnancies and ensure that teenage girls stay in school. The situation is raising alarm bells, as many poor and rural families experience the negative ripple effects brought about by their teenage children becoming parents and leaving them with no option other than to… Keep Reading
Misgendering matters – here’s why
Selma Ndasilohenda Iyambo Just like you wouldn’t want people to call you a name that is not yours, don’t call others by the wrong pronoun. Simple! We are living in the 21st century yet people still want to assume individuals’ genders based on their physical appearances. We were sitting in a restaurant at Johannesburg Airport with a colleague when a vibrant young woman decided to misgender my colleague. “Good morning,… Keep Reading
Community perceptions of rape overshadow the law
Ester Mbathera For many of the people at Divundu settlement, ‘rape’ or ‘statutory rape’ are foreign terms that they only read or hear about in the media. These forms of sexual abuse are not widely spoken about, despite the high pregnancy rates among young girls under the age of 15. These pregnancies are often the result of sexual relationships between young girls and older men meaning that they are legally… Keep Reading
Financial Autonomy Through Financial Literacy
– Thembi Kandanga Women have come a long way in gaining and maintaining their financial autonomy, but the playing field is far from level. A woman’s ability to make decisions about their money – this is the premise of financial autonomy for women. I truly believe that can only be achieved through financial literacy for young girls and women. Focusing literacy efforts on girls in high school and university is… Keep Reading
Clinical harassment
– Nghidimondjila Hashikutuva “One day during our rotation, a lecturer pulled away my scrubs without my permission, to see my tattoo. Luckily, I was wearing a t-shirt underneath, so he was not able to see anything,” recounts a medical student at the University of Namibia (UNAM) School of Medicine. *Josephine, now a sixth year student at UNAM, says that at first, she did not “think too much of it” until… Keep Reading
Pleasure & Consent in Comprehensive Sexual Education: towards a feminist curriculum for health workers
– Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja Health work is care work that does not only happen in hospitals and clinics, but it also happens in our homes and places of business. It is a labour and commitment to helping ourselves and others to restore their wellness and encounter healing in the best possible ways. Although this is the ethos, women and non-gender conforming people in Namibia have testified that local health services need… Keep Reading
Young Mother
– Beatrice Schultz “I can’t concentrate in class because I worry about him: how he is, if he has eaten, if he is ok…” Books clutched to her chest, head down, walking through the corridors hoping not to be seen. The teachers don’t see her, her peers laugh and avoid her. Suddenly she has become a sign of shame in the school. Everyday is a challenge to make it to… Keep Reading
Take the lead: journeying toward gender parity
– By Agnes Yeboah Gender diversity in the workplace is not a big ask. It is a small and simple goal. It is the basic ambition of having an equal number of men and women in an organisation. Also known as gender parity, it can specifically be defined as having an equal number of men and women hired at a similar rate, compensated equally for the same job, and given… Keep Reading
