Allexer Namundjebo
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for stronger planning and budgeting for children’s rights across Africa.
She urged governments and communities to place children’s welfare at the heart of national development.
Her remarks came in a statement issued by her office on Monday to mark the Day of the African Child, observed every year on 16 June.
This year’s theme is “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010”.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the day is a time to reflect on the 1976 Soweto uprising and renew efforts to protect and empower African children.
“The Day of the African Child serves as a poignant reminder of the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, where courageous students stood against injustice and demanded their right to quality education. We pay tribute to their brave and unwavering spirit,” she said.
She added that Namibia remains committed to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
She highlighted free education and healthcare for children as key achievements, but warned that challenges remain.
“Children continue to face gender-based violence, child labour, and malnutrition. I call on all stakeholders to foster cross-sector collaboration, sustained investments, and active participation from families, communities, and all other actors,” she said.
The Day of the African Child was established in response to the Soweto Uprising on 16 June 1976, when thousands of Black schoolchildren in South Africa protested against poor education and the forced use of Afrikaans as the language of instruction.
The day has since become an important platform for promoting the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
The Charter, made up of 48 articles, outlines the rights and responsibilities of children in Africa. It guides governments and communities to protect, support, and involve children in society.
According to UNICEF, as of 2023, Africa was home to about 627 million children under the age of 18.
UNICEF expects this number to grow to nearly one billion by 2050–2055.
That means 40% of the world’s children will live in Africa. UNICEF says this translates to four out of every ten children globally being African.
In Ghana, children make up around 45% of the population.
On the Day of the African Child, UNICEF called for urgent investment in basic education, health, nutrition, protection, digital access, and job readiness.
It said these are key to helping children not only survive but succeed.
“The future of Africa is the future of the world, and immediate action is imperative to avoid global consequences,” said UNICEF. “Bold, united, and sustained action will foster a generation of innovators and leaders for the continent and beyond.”
Meanwhile, social justice advocate Shaun Gariseb has submitted legislative reform proposals to the ministry of justice.
This follows a recent public call for input from the ministry.
In his submission, Gariseb urged lawmakers to review the 1989 Public Gatherings Proclamation, calling it “outdated and restrictive to democratic participation.”
He shared his experience with a recent protest he helped organise.
“In June this year, we gathered to hand over a petition on a rape case involving minors in the Goreangab and Havana areas. We were forced to stand 500 metres away from the court. No one noticed us. And the suspect, who had previously reoffended after being released on bail, was granted bail again,” Gariseb stated.
He said a similar incident took place on 4 June 2025 outside the Katutura Magistrate’s Court.
Protesters were again kept away by the 500-metre rule, and the acting control prosecutor refused to accept their petition.
“How are we supposed to be heard if outdated laws keep us out of sight and out of mind?” he asked.
Gariseb criticised Parliament for failing to modernise the law.
“Last year, the Ministry of Justice tabled a bill to replace the Public Gatherings Proclamation, but it was met with resistance and ultimately withdrawn. This shows a serious reluctance to align our laws with the realities of a democratic and independent Namibia,” he said.
Gariseb also called for stronger enforcement of the Access to Information Act, describing it as the “mother of all laws”.
He pushed for the recognition of class action lawsuits in Namibian courts.
“Namibians should be able to litigate collectively, especially in cases of environmental damage, consumer rights, or systemic abuse. The absence of class actions is a gap in our justice system,” he noted.
He also urged the Ministry of Finance to expand the VAT exemption on menstrual products to cover all sanitary items and to start providing them in schools from the 2027/2028 financial year.
“We cannot continue having children miss school because of taboos and lack of access. The government can and should budget for this,” Gariseb added.
