Iivula&Ithana wants netball promoted

WINDHOEK The president of the Namibia Women in Sport Association (Nawisa) Pendukeni Iivula Ithana called on African women to promote netball in their communities.

Iivula Ithana, who is Namibia ‘s Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, also serves as president and chairperson of the executive committee of the African Women in Sport Association (Awisa).

“While we witness netball being played in African schools, the sport seems to suffer at national and international level. Business people should support the establishment of women’s sports clubs where girls and women will get the opportunity not only to participate in sport, but to also develop more female leaders in sport, ” she stated.

The minister was addressing the AWISA congress and second general assembly held in Windhoek on Friday and Saturday.

Netball in Namibia is played at local and national level, with a national netball team in place.

The minister said more, however, needs to be done so that this sport code can be at the same level as football, rugby and athletics.

“While we promote girls and women in sport, we should at all times mobilise for women ‘s empowerment in Africa, ” she added.

She said it is clear women face barriers in the quest to occupy positions of decision making and management in public life, including sport.

“We are equally aware that positions in sports governing bodies in Africa are often on a voluntary basis. Therefore, for Awisa to attain its objectives of promoting gender equality in decision making in sport, it calls for more dedication, sacrifices, creativity, transparency and accountability to take up such positions of authority. ”

Her suggestion to Awisa is to develop and maintain gender equality policies, and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed in stakeholder policies.

They must also develop training programmes aimed at raising gender awareness, and commitment within the working environment also needs to be developed, according to Iivula Ithana.

The association is also advised to establish a database of women in professional management in sport in order to measure their progress.

“In Awisa, we participate in change, face the challenges of change, and in the process create strategies to deal with gender imbalances in Africa, ” she said.

Nawisa was established in May 1998 to promote women in sport in Namibia. The headquarters of Awisa, which has 31 members, are in Windhoek. Nampa

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