By Agnes Tjindjo
Namibia Rural Women`s Assembly hosted a Southern Africa Peoples Solidarity Network one day workshop focusing on women and land rights. the workshop brought together 95 women from 5 Regions in the Country namely : Otjozondjupa,Oshana,Oshikoto,Omusati,Ohangwena. The celebration started with Mystica were selected participants reflected on the current issues on ground, Land allocation, Climate change, Water crisis which was followed by the official opening and presentation and awareness on Southern Africa Development Community: By NRWA Climate Change Coordinator Teopolina Hango
Ms Hango senzitized the participants on what SAPSN is its treaty and mandate who make the decisions the bjective and the Role of the member states,she also looked at the Representation of women in Namibia and stressed that Namibia and South Africa are tied for the highest representation of women in parliament in the SADC community,
Land open discussion by all participants before the presentation from directorate of lands reform.
Although women play a critical role in food production, they are less likely than men to own inherit, and control land and natural resources, which limits their socioeconomic to gender- based violence. Women needs land for resident to grow crops and raise livestock, and control over property which can provide them with a degree of stability.5% of women in the conference had land registered on their name and that is getting it through buying or inheritance from husbands the rest are all living with husbands or parents. Women has indicated that they are aware of their rights to land, but a lot of fears is stressed on approaching their beloved husband and traditional leaders to discuss the land application in their names because of cultural norms. Women are made victims of patriarchy most of the question and clarity come out of the presentation that has re-opened their mind to it.
Ms. Jacopina Amulungu, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, delivered a compelling presentation on the state of Land and Tenure Reform in Namibia. She provided an insightful overview, beginning with key highlights from the Namibian Constitution and the legal framework that underpins land rights. Central to her presentation were the objectives and benefits of communal land registration, particularly emphasizing the importance of customary land registration procedures.
In her conclusion, Ms. Amulungu strongly encouraged women to secure their land rights, citing the provisions of the supreme law and the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002. She remarked, “By securing your land rights, you not only safeguard your own future but also contribute to the productivity and sustainability of our lands as we build resilience against the ever-present challenges of climate change.” The presentation was particularly valuable for the Namibia RWA sisters, who gained deeper insights into their land rights, empowering them with the knowledge to better protect and assert their claims to communal land, thereby enhancing their ability to sustain their livelihoods and communities.
The women at the event later demanded that such presentation should be made in all meetings and in the presents of man and traditional leaders and making sure that the traditional court and chiefs are also senzitised on this low,local language ratio awareness will be very helpful for information to reached the person that missed the meeting.also the participants requested for customary low booklet in local language which was madr available at the time and every participants went home with one copy.
