Allexer Namundjembo
Minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao says positive parenting remains the strongest tool to address violence against children, poor child development and long-term poverty.
She spoke at the launch of the national parent and caregiver handbook and facilitator guide at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek on Wednesday.
Luvindao said investment in families must be treated as a national development priority.
“The family unit is the bedrock of our national development. If the family is weak, the nation is weak. But if the family is strong, supported and nurtured, our potential is limitless,” she said.
She said parenting interventions must form part of the country’s economic and development strategy.
“We know the science. Evidence proves that positive parenting is the single most effective intervention we have. It improves child health, boosts cognitive development and increases future productivity,” Luvindao said.
She added that positive parenting also protects children from harm.
“It is our best weapon against violence, substance abuse and intergenerational poverty,” she said.
Luvindao said many parents face pressure while raising children.
“Parenting today is an act of courage. Our parents are navigating a storm. They are battling the pressures of the modern economy, the intrusion of screen time, the scourge of substance abuse and the delicate challenge of work-life balance,” she said.
Luvindao noted that many caregivers raise children while dealing with their own trauma.
“Many are doing this while carrying their own unhealed traumas,” she said.
Luvindao said the handbook aims to give parents practical guidance.
“To every parent struggling in silence, wondering if you are doing enough: you are not alone. The handbook we launch today is your companion. It is not just a book; it is a bridge,” she said.
She said the guide promotes discipline based on communication rather than fear.
“It is designed to replace frustration with communication and confusion with clarity. It teaches that discipline is not about fear, but about guidance,” she said.
She added that parents must understand their own emotions when guiding children.
“Before we can regulate a child’s emotions, we must understand our own,” she said.
“Whether you are a biological mother, a father, a grandparent, a foster carer or a guardian, if you are shaping a young life, you are holding the future of Namibia in your hands,” she said.
She also called on the media to promote positive parenting messages.
“We envision a Namibia where there is zero tolerance for violence against children, and where every home is a sanctuary of safety, emotional intelligence and love. What we do for our children today will define the Namibia of tomorrow.”
Namibia’s child protection policies include the Child Care and Protection Act of 2015, which strengthened legal protection for children.
Data show many children experience physical, sexual or emotional violence before adulthood. The 2019 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey found that nearly 40% of girls and about 45% of boys reported abuse during childhood. During that time, physical violence was the most common form.
According to data many children do not report abuse and only about half tell someone and about 15% receive support services.
Meanwhile, Namibia’s child protection workforce remains limited. More data shows there is one social worker for nearly every 18 000 children.
