Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Emma Kantema has cautioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) issues should not be regarded as women's issues but must rather be seen as societal challenges.
The 5th National Men's Conference, held at Katima Mulilo, is held under the theme "Empowering Men as Agents of Change: Ending Gender-Based Violence and Building Safer Communities."
Dr Kantema highlighted that patriarchal norms, high rates of poverty and unemployment, and substance abuse remain primary drivers of GBV.
She called on men to interrogate harmful norms within their communities.
"Explore harmful social norms and practices relating to toxic masculinity and violence that perpetuate GBV, and create a platform and safe space for men to engage on issues affecting us. Challenging these norms starts with awareness. It takes courage to unlearn what men have been taught and to admit that some beliefs, norms or attitudes no longer serve men; they may harm them. However, positive norms that help men to treat each other equally with respect and dignity are to be preserved," she stressed.
The minister emphasised that the high suicide rates are a result of men not seeking help for mental health challenges.
"In 2023/2024, Namibia had an alarming 542 deaths by suicide reported; out of that number, 5 were girls, 8 were boys, meaning children aged 0-18, 449 were men, and 80 were women. What does this statistic tell us? The Oshana Region had the highest rate of 29.9% per 100 000. While in the Zambezi region, 16.8% per 100,000 died by suicide. It is also heartbreaking to indicate that there are currently more men in prisons than women."
The Head of the Gender-Based Violence Unit in the Zambezi Region, Senior Inspector Rahele Tawana, said the Zambezi region has registered over 3,000 cases of GBV from November 2024 to November 2025, with 50 cases being reported by men.
"The challenge that we are facing is that men don't come out to report due to fear or maybe because there are men, the status that they are having. So it is rare, but we are trying to give the awareness through GBV campaigns in schools and churches, either on the radio or in the communities."
Head of Community Policing in Zambezi, Chief Inspector Kisco Sitali anticipates that the 2-day event will bring forth better solutions.
"I believe that from that angle we are going to find the way on how we men can resolve issues or can solve issues without using our masculinity, without being harmful."