Women’s Voices: Plural, Varied, Amplified
It took 34 years for Namibia to produce political leaders willing to stand publicly for the rights of LGBTQI+ people. Last month, independent presidential candidate Rosa Namises and the All People’s Party (APP) became the first to vocally support same-sex marriage and equal rights. In 2024, where acknowledgement and acceptance of different gender identities and sexual orientations are so widespread, this may not seem groundbreaking. [Editor’s note: Rosa Namises is… Keep Reading
A controversial bill, introduced by MP Jerry Ekandjo in July 2023, has sparked heated debate across Namibia. The proposed legislation seeks to criminalize same-sex marriages by restricting the legal definition of a “spouse” to opposite-sex couples and excluding gender-diverse individuals from marriage altogether. Those who support or perform same-sex marriages could face six years in prison or a N$100,000 fine. In the streets of Windhoek, local citizens shared their thoughts… Keep Reading
The results are in – Namibians are ready to cast their ballots in November’s Presidential and National Assembly elections. While voter registration has been a concern in past elections, 91 percent of eligible voters registered in the two month window. While this news is certainly heartening, the real uphill battle begins now. It is notable that, at present, none of the political parties contesting these elections have released a manifesto…. Keep Reading
The Namibian Constitution was ratified on the 9th of February 1990 and came into effect 40 days later, on the 21st of March 1990–Namibia’s first Independence Day. The Constitution was drafted after the first free parliamentary elections, which were held between the 7th and the 11th of November 1989. Before 1978, only white people were eligible to vote or run for political office. After that, while political parties representing indigenous… Keep Reading
On the morning of the 21st of June 2024, journalists, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies stood in line outside The High Court of Namibia on Fonnie Karuaihe Street in Windhoek. The street–previously known as Luderitz Street–perhaps stood as symbolic foreshadowing for the decolonizing on the horizon inside the court as people stood outside with placards reading “Decolonize My Sexuality”. After security checks at the reception, everyone hastily… Keep Reading
In November, Namibians will head to the polls for the eighth time in the country’s democratic history. This is a time for reflection, a time to assess the actions of our leaders and the promises being made by those vying for our votes. But, time and time again, election years become a fertile breeding ground for opportunistic politicians and public figures. Those contesting for political positions try to find something… Keep Reading
“I’m five years older than Thapelo. When we were children and by ourselves, Thapelo and I would play dress up and pretend to have modelling shows. Thapelo never had to tell me who they are because I always knew, and we’ve always been close.” Shesmida Phori is a 28-year-old nurse who grew up with her sibling Thapelo Simushi in Omaruru and then Katima Mulilo. The eldest of three, she has… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO The intricate relationship between our mental states, our bodies, and how society perceives human sexuality remains an overlooked facet of sexual and reproductive health, however, psychology experts say our understanding of mental wellbeing deeply influences our approach to sexuality and sexual health. Emerita Malanguka, a seasoned clinical psychologist at the Care2Mind practice in Windhoek, delves into the mind-body connection within the context of sexuality and mental health. She… Keep Reading
The stylistic rebranding of oppression By: KIM STARR Before independence, the concept of ‘apartness’ legally sanctioned segregation among races, affording rights to some races over others. It was legal, so it could not be challenged through legal means. The motives: racial supremacy. Three decades later, we still have state-sanctioned othering. You’d think our history would make us wiser than to draw on legal grounds for unequal treatment of human beings…. Keep Reading
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
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
Words and Images by Ester Mbathera The Divundu settlement on the banks of the Kavango River is one of the communities with high teenage pregnancy rates in the Kavango East region. In this village, 200 kilometres from the region’s capital of Rundu, it isn’t unusual to find girls as young as 13 who are mothers, and girls who have two children by the age of 15. The contraceptive injection, which… Keep Reading
