The mayor of Ongwediva, Naemi Amuthenu, has been elected president of the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia, deputised by Gobabis mayor, Elvin Gariseb.

The election took place at the association's congress held at Walvis Bay.

The network of female local authority leaders says the high level of poverty among women and gender-based violence are causes for concern.

The women leaders met at Rundu, under the umbrella of the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN), to discuss strategies on how to curb these social ills.