The final instalment of the three-part roundtable series, Stories of Women During Colonial Namibia, brought together prominent voices to discuss the future role of women in Namibia, with a focus on the arts, empowerment, education and advocacy.
Held under the theme "Envisioning the Role of Women in Shaping Namibia's Future", the panel featured former Member of Parliament, liberation struggle veteran, and Pan-African Women's Federation President, Eunice Iipinge, alongside poet and language activist, Nesindano Namises.
The discussion shed light on the significant – yet often overlooked – role women played during the liberation struggle and how that legacy continues to shape gender rights today.
Iipinge emphasised that, while Namibia has made strides toward gender equality, such as the 50/50 gender representation policy, persistent issues like unequal pay remain.
"Legal frameworks and legal laws that are in place to protect women and women's rights. And that Namibia has done a lot in terms of that area, but not always done so. It has done what has been done. The legal framework is there, but the implementation of it requires you and me to identify what the issues are that are affecting women or prohibiting women or discriminating against women within the society."
Namises, known for her powerful advocacy through poetry, explored the role of the arts in advancing women's rights, particularly among marginalised communities.
"I think when it comes to art, the artists, the accuracy that we speak about can be many different things because artists also work from an abstract perspective. And I think particularly in this sense, words like "role" and "what you're supposed to do" seem kind of strong, but I think we've already naturally, particularly also as women, kind of organically already taken on those roles."
The panel concluded with a collective call for women to continue the fight, not only through political and legal platforms but also by leveraging creativity and cultural expression to shape a more inclusive future.