Swapo Party president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia serves as a testament to gender equality, highlighting the success of her party's constitutional framework in promoting this cause.
Dr Nandi-Ndaitwah said this in her speech at the 6th Swapo Party Extraordinary Congress in celebration of the International Women's Day.
According to the 2024 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index, Namibia is ranked 8th in the world and 1st in Sub-Saharan Africa, having closed over 80% of its gender gap.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also Namibia's President-elect, stated that this demonstrates significant progress in gender equality in Namibia, paved by leaders such as the Founding President Sam Nujoma.
She emphasized that this year's International Women's Day themes, including Namibia's sub-theme, "For all women and girls' rights, equality, empowerment," alongside the global theme, "Accelerate Action," call for swift and decisive action to achieve gender equality.
Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah commended party members for rallying behind her.
"I'm very grateful for the trust and confidence you have shown in me. Today, you are referring to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as President-elect. It is the result of your hard work, and I cannot take that for granted. I believe that the same commitment and dedication that you have shown during the whole process will be there as we are going to move in the five years that have been given to us to lead them, and let us work together."
The Swapo Party Women's Council also marked International Women's Day.
Its Secretary, Fransina Kahungu, emphasised that they were honouring women for crafting their way forward, addressing the challenges they face, as well as celebrating the party's achievements in advancing women.
"This day is worth celebrating because moving forward, we will remember this day as the day a female president of the party was elected. Namibia is very serious about promoting women, not only politically but also socially and economically. We observed, religiously, the first female bishop for the ELCIN church. So gender equality in Namibia is doing very well, and in Namibia, we are saying we are not only promoting women empowerment but also men because if you leave out men, then you will not have sustainable development."