Also known as: Gender equality and child welfare minister Emma Kantema · Minister Kantema · Minister of gender equality and child welfare Emma Kantema · Dr. Emma Kantema
Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, leading efforts on gender equity, child protection, and violence survivor support.
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May 2026
Windhoek Observer
Minister of gender equality and child welfare Emma Kantemacalled onAfrican governments to strengthen ethical leadership, inclusive governance and innovation in public service delivery
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“Meanwhile, minister of gender equality and child welfare Emma Kantema called on African governments to strengthen ethical leadership, inclusive governance and innovation in public service delivery.”
Emma Kantematold parliamentshelters had accommodated 254 survivors during 2025/26 financial year
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“Gender minister Emma Kantema told parliament during her budget motivation that the shelters had accommodated 254 survivors during the 2025/26 financial year.”
Gender minister Emma Kantemarevealedfigures on GBV survivors during budget presentation
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“The figures revealed by gender minister Emma Kantema during the ministry's 2026/27 budget presentation last Tuesday fall under the ministry's 'Programme 02', which focuses on childcare and social protection.”
Emma Kantemapresentedgender equality and child welfare budget allocation of N$417.2 million
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“I rise before you today to present the budget allocation with respect to vote 36: ministry of gender equality and child welfare for the 2026/2027 financial year.”
Emma Kantemasaidno circumstance justifies violence against a child
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“Minister of gender equality and child welfare Emma Kantema yesterday said no circumstance justifies violence against a child, and adults who perpetrate or enable such acts will face the full force of justice.”
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare called on African governments to build ethical, technology-driven and people-centred public services to improve service delivery, create jobs and drive economic growth. Speaking at the AMDIN Conference in Windhoek, Ngurare said African leaders must be principled, strengthen institutional oversight and transparency, and reject self-enrichment through public office.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare called on African governments to build ethical, technology-driven and people-centred public services to improve service delivery, create jobs and drive economic growth. Speaking at the AMDIN Conference in Windhoek, Ngurare said African leaders must be principled, strengthen institutional oversight and transparency, and reject self-enrichment through public office.
Namibia's eight state-run shelters for gender-based violence survivors operate with a N$1 million annual budget covering only food and basics, accommodating only 80 GBV clients at any time despite thousands of reported cases. Staffing shortages, no national system to track turned-away victims, and restricted access policies compound the pressure, with the ministry acknowledging the sheltering system is "not yet fully adequate to meet all demand across the country."
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare sheltered 347 survivors of gender-based violence, child abuse and trafficking in the past year through counselling and designated safe places. The ministry, allocated N$417 million for 2026/27, also accommodated 520 children in homes and shelters, provided psychosocial support to over 5,000 children, and recruited 21 additional social workers to strengthen response services.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has been allocated N$417.2 million for the 2026/2027 financial year to advance gender equity, child protection, and women's economic empowerment across Namibia. In the past year, the ministry supported 347 survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking, accommodated 329 street children in boarding schools, and expanded early childhood development enrolment from 110,726 to 126,213 across the country.
Elly Aron will compete for Namibia at the 73rd Miss World pageant in Vietnam from August to September, promoting Namibian cultural diversity and preventing teenage pregnancies. She has backing from the government and Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, who calls her participation a national responsibility.
Child welfare minister Emma Kantema has called on mothers in distress to seek counselling and support rather than abandon their babies, noting that those facing abusive relationships or poverty can explore legal options including family care, adoption, and places of safety. The minister warned that leaving infants in undesignated spaces could have consequences and encouraged families to reach out to the child welfare ministry for assistance.
The Development Bank of Namibia has launched DBN For Her, a women-focused financing initiative backed by N$400 million from the African Development Bank, offering loans ranging from N$150,000 to N$10 million to women-owned businesses employing between five and 300 people.
IPC parliamentarian Lilian Lutuhezi has called for measures to stop the exploitation of children as labourers on farms, in villages, and as domestic workers, citing a recent case of an Angolan girl arrested from illegal employment. She said the practice violates the Child Care and Protection Act of 2015 and Namibia's international commitments to protect children from exploitation.
An Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian criticised the recently tabled budget for not addressing the shortage of gender-based violence shelters, noting that Namibia has only eight government-operated shelters with six regions having none. She also highlighted severe shortages in social workers, with Namibia having one social worker for every 17,923 children compared to the international standard of one per 5,000 children.
A 7-year-old boy was hospitalised at Windhoek Central Hospital after allegedly being assaulted by the father of a classmate who discovered his son crying after an incident at school. The Namibian government says it is investigating the matter, with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare condemning the incident and emphasising that no circumstance justifies violence against children.
At a Women in Aviation Namibia summit held Friday at Droombos in Windhoek, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed the government's commitment to advancing women in aviation through aligned national policies and regional frameworks, while emphasizing that women should pursue roles based on merit and capability rather than gender. Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi and Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Emma Kantema highlighted that aviation must provide structured pathways, mentorship, and accountability to close the gap in female representation in technical and leadership roles.
Government leaders and industry stakeholders at the Women in Aviation Namibia Summit emphasised the need for inclusive opportunities and mentorship for women in the aviation sector, with the Prime Minister noting that women should pursue roles based on merit and capability, and the Minister of Gender Equality stressing the need for structured pathways and accountability to address women's underrepresentation in technical and leadership roles.
Gender Equality Minister Emma Kantema has praised the growing presence of women in Namibia's judiciary, noting recent milestones including the appointment of the first permanent woman judge to the Supreme Court and increased representation of women judges and magistrates. She acknowledged these achievements as evidence of women's capacity to lead at the highest levels while also flagging safety concerns for female judicial officers, referencing the 2025 death of prosecutor Justine Shiweda.
WJD Cloete Combined School in Rietoog was inaugurated with four new classrooms and storage facilities worth N$1.4 million, made possible through a partnership between Children in the Wilderness and IXM Metals. The infrastructure aims to improve access to education in the rural Hardap region and reduce the need for pupils to travel long distances to neighbouring towns.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and Ministry of Health and Social Services have launched a National Parenting and Caregiver Handbook that emphasises community-based child-rearing and provides resources for parents navigating 21st century parenting challenges, including technology and cyberbullying. The handbook's seven modules are designed to help parents maintain emotional stability and promote the African principle that "strong communities build strong children."
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women with entrepreneurial skills through the EntreprenHER programme, funded by UN Women, which provides digital and financial literacy training to support women micro-entrepreneurs. The programme, now in its third phase across Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, has supported over 2,400 women-owned micro-enterprises, with the ministry now exploring partnerships to advance to phase four.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women in entrepreneurial skills via the EntreprenHER programme, which provides digital and financial literacy training and market access support. The UN-funded initiative, now in phase 3, has supported over 2,400 micro-enterprises across Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, with the ministry exploring partnerships for further expansion.
Government stakeholders held an inter-stakeholder engagement workshop in Windhoek focused on establishing environmental stewardship and embedding gender mainstreaming across resilience efforts. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare called for science-based approaches and resilience education, while ministers highlighted the need for climate-smart infrastructure, differentiated support for women and vulnerable groups, and integrated policy responses to escalating climate risks.
Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Emma Kantema called on staff to embrace a "business unusual" approach focused on decisive action, accountability and measurable results in service delivery. She stressed that public service is about serving citizens—not personal comfort—and urged staff to address gender-based violence, child protection and other challenges through problem-solving and follow-up rather than passing citizens between offices.