Cabinet concerned about representation of women

SWAPO’S Women Council received a boost in their quest for 50 per cent female representation in the party’s top decision-making bodies.

Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced yesterday that Cabinet had noted SADC’s new target of 50 per cent female representation in administration, political and decision-making positions. The SADC summit held in Maseru, Lesotho, last month set a new target of 50 per cent for female representation in political and decision-making positions.The previous target was 30 per cent.”The summit also directed that future reporting must also include the status in local authorities, as well as diplomatic representation (ambassadors and high commissioners),” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.In Namibia, 27 per cent of Ministers and 25 per cent of Deputy Ministers are women.Women Parliamentarians make up 27 per cent while 23 per cent of Permanent Secretaries and 24 per cent of Deputy Permanent Secretaries are also women.Women make up 32 per cent of Directors and Heads of Departments in the civil service.”Namibia has thus not achieved the previous target of 30 per cent and much needs to be done to attain the new target of 50 per cent of women in politics and decision-making positions,” the Cabinet statement said.Last week, the Swapo Women Council said they would push for 50 per cent representation at all levels of the party and in the National Assembly.A Central Committee meeting of the SWC decided to lobby for changing the ruling party’s constitution to allow half of the party’s Politburo, Central Committee and MPs in the next National Assembly to be women.The SADC summit held in Maseru, Lesotho, last month set a new target of 50 per cent for female representation in political and decision-making positions.The previous target was 30 per cent.”The summit also directed that future reporting must also include the status in local authorities, as well as diplomatic representation (ambassadors and high commissioners),” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.In Namibia, 27 per cent of Ministers and 25 per cent of Deputy Ministers are women.Women Parliamentarians make up 27 per cent while 23 per cent of Permanent Secretaries and 24 per cent of Deputy Permanent Secretaries are also women.Women make up 32 per cent of Directors and Heads of Departments in the civil service.”Namibia has thus not achieved the previous target of 30 per cent and much needs to be done to attain the new target of 50 per cent of women in politics and decision-making positions,” the Cabinet statement said.Last week, the Swapo Women Council said they would push for 50 per cent representation at all levels of the party and in the National Assembly.A Central Committee meeting of the SWC decided to lobby for changing the ruling party’s constitution to allow half of the party’s Politburo, Central Committee and MPs in the next National Assembly to be women.