Erongo widows call for government support similar to social grants

The Erongo Widows Association is calling on the government to introduce support similar to social grants or disability benefits, particularly for young widows and those caring for children alone. “Why are widows left out when there is support for orphans and disabled people?” asks Toini Ipinge (63), a widow for 23 years and additional executive member.

The association says it hopes government recognition and support will help widows provide for their families, access education for their children and reduce the social and economic pressures that come with widowhood.

Ipinge says many widows at Walvis Bay face financial hardship and struggle to support their children.

“Without jobs or government support, our children’s education often stops. Some turn to drugs or even face imprisonment because of the absence of a father figure,” she says. She says some widows live in poverty, struggle to buy basic food items and cannot afford registration fees to join the association. Others are unable to pay school-related costs. The association was founded by Penny Martins and Jane Kuhanga, the Namibian representative of the Pan-African Widows Association.

It officially started in July last year at Walvis Bay, bringing together widows through word of mouth to form a support network.

Kuhanga, who lost her husband in 2020, says widowhood brings emotional, financial and administrative challenges. “I became like two souls in one body. One part of me had to be strong and continue with life, while the other part was grieving deeply and asking how long it would take to heal,” Kuhanga adds.

She says the most difficult part was starting life over while dealing with estate administration.

“The grief felt endless, yet psychological support is very limited across the country. Trying to retain what I had worked for often meant exposing my entire life just to prove legitimacy. In that process, one’s dignity guaranteed by the Constitution is compromised,” she says.

Kuhanga says her experience motivated her to help establish the association and advocate widows’ rights.

“Widows face unique challenges that are often overlooked. There is a need for collective support and a stronger voice so that widows are not left to struggle in isolation,” she says.

She says widows should be recognised in policy and not treated as charity cases.

“Widows need their constitutional rights to be upheld and protected. They must be included in policy and decision-making processes and their dignity must be respected,” she says.

Kuhanga says widows require legal support, financial assistance, access to housing, healthcare services, including psychological support, and education and skills development. She adds that the association has struggled to establish a working relationship with the government.

Another executive member, Meriam Shikongo (62), says the association provides basic support, including food and small financial assistance, but resources remain limited.

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