EDITORIAL: Can Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency be a panacea to the women's crisis?

Namibia’s women face daily struggles that have become normalised, their challenges slipping into the background of a society too accustomed to their plight. Teenage pregnancies are so common they barely raise an eyebrow these days. Girls from impoverished families are fighting battles no child should face, including the inability to afford basic necessities like sanitary pads. Add to this the epidemic of sexual violence they endure, and the grimmer the picture becomes.

Today, this newspaper highlights the heartbreaking story of women in Kavango West resorting to traditional herbs to prevent pregnancy. While some defend this as a valued tradition, for many it is a desperate measure born from a lack of access to contraceptives – resources that should be readily available in any community.

Earlier this week, Namibian Sun reported an equally disturbing reality: women in the Guinas constituency giving birth while driven in cars en route to distant medical facilities. This image – mothers risking their lives and those of their newborns on rough, long journeys – should shame us all as a nation.

For far too long, women’s issues have taken a backseat in our patriarchal society. Perhaps the men who have dominated political leadership since independence bear responsibility for this neglect. The question now is whether an incoming female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, can turn the tide.

As someone who has lived through and understands the experiences of Namibian women, Nandi-Ndaitwah has the unique opportunity – and responsibility – to prioritise their welfare.

Namibian women have endured society’s insatiable appetite for sexual violence. They have been forgotten in critical conversations about reproductive health and basic dignity. It is time for change.