Widows lose their cattle and small livestock, and more than 40% of them are deprived of farming equipment after their husbands' deaths.
UN Resident Representative Hopolang Phororo remarked this at the opening of the African Widows Summit in Windhoek.
The event started today with more than 500 physical and virtual delegates from 21 African countries gathered for a three-day conference focused on championing the rights of widows across the continent.
The summit, held under the theme "Widowhood in Africa: Building a Sustainable Culture", brings together widows' representatives and global stakeholders to address challenges such as legal discrimination, economic hardship, poor healthcare access, inadequate housing and education barriers.
Phororo remarked on protecting the widow with the legacy left by her husband.
"These are not just private losses; they are national losses cutting across generations. But building a sustainable culture means changing the story. Namibia has taken important steps forward, including legal reforms such as the Communal Land Reform Act, which grants widows inheritance rights to communal land."
The summit launched the Pan-African Widows Growth and Development Initiative and the African Widows Agenda to promote inclusion and empowerment and unveiled the Pan-African Widows Union, a platform to unify and amplify widows' voices in policy and development.
The Deputy Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Linda Mbwale, reaffirmed the government's commitment to advocating for widows' rights.
"As the Ministry responsible for gender development, we reaffirm our commitment to champion reform that uplifts women, to uplift those who find their voices and to ensure that our law, tradition and policy reflect the value of equity and humanity. Let us mark the beginning of the continental movement where the window is no longer a shadow chapter but a space for renewal. Be serious and recognise."
The former First Lady of Tanzania, Anna Mkapa, addressed the matter of rights surrounding widowhood.
"I stand here to acknowledge the hard work, determination and effort by the Pan African Women, Widows, Pan African Widows Growth and Development Initiative and all other stakeholders in promoting the rights and development of widows in Africa in terms of economic development, social rights, and legal and policy support. By organising the challenges facing widows and finding means of addressing them, we can build a more compassionate and inclusive society."
Organisers emphasised that the summit marks a turning point in continental efforts to address widowhood, providing a platform for dialogue, policy engagement and long-term reforms that prioritise widows' rights and empowerment across Africa.