Gender and social activist Rosa Namis says that having many women in a major government position does not guarantee change and they need to prove themselves.
“It should be about the impact these women have on these roles. We need to see the change,” she said Sunday.
She said the new minister should not collect only salaries.
Namises has appointed eight women as ministries presidents, of which 14 have been appointed, and Lucia Witbooi has been appointed as second commander, bringing numbers to nine female cabinet members.
Namis demonstrated her passion and dedication to Namibian children through her role as executive director of education, arts and culture, she said, praised the president for appointing new Minister of Education, Sane Steenkamp.
“It’s a good choice and I want to see other women showing the same dedication,” she said.
Namis said she wasn’t impressed with the numbers as far as women are concerned, but the quality they bring to the table.
“We have the numbers that are in the position of minister. We have to use them positively. These women now have to support each other.
Namis recommended that the position of Vice President currently occupied by Witbooi be reviewed and clearly defined.
“This is currently dormant. The VP’s office needs to see how they can support the president’s office in addition to standing in her absence, in order to see how they can support the president’s office in terms of strategy and decision-making,” she said.
She urged Emma Kantema Gaomas, the new minister of gender equality and child welfare, to not continue the current state of gender-based violence.
“We need to approach this issue in a different way and declare it a national crisis if necessary. Men must also be involved,” she said.
Namis said she hopes the county’s first female president will take the helm.
