Women’s Voices: Plural, Varied, Amplified
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
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
