South Africa and Namibia are joining forces to lift women up across the region. Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga met Namibia’s Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Dr Emma Kantema, in Pretoria to finalise a landmark bilateral agreement on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on Thursday, 16 July 2026 — with the agreement, first initiated in 2022, set for signing during the Commission itself.
Six priority areas for real change
The agreement provides a practical framework for collaboration in six priority areas, including:
- Working together to keep women and girls safe, and sharing expertise on national legislation, programmes and strategies;
- Exchanging strategies to ensure adequate representation of women in decision-making positions in the public and private sectors, including capacity-building;
- Joint programmes to empower women in agriculture and other economic sectors;
- Joint training of women and girls in conflict resolution under the Women, Peace and Security agenda;
- Joint participation in national, regional and international dialogues on entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment.
Chikunga welcomed the progress made by officials from both countries and insisted the deal must deliver measurable results.
“This must translate into a concrete Implementation Plan with clear targets and timeframes,” the Minister said.
A foundation of shared history
Chikunga noted that the two countries’ longstanding historical and political ties provide a strong foundation for cooperation on social and economic development, underpinned by shared history, geographic proximity and collaboration through the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations.
South Africa steps up to lead SADC
The Minister also outlined South Africa’s priorities ahead of assuming the chairship of SADC, saying the country will work closely with member states, including Namibia, to accelerate the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020–2030. Her department, together with the SADC Secretariat, convened a virtual meeting of SADC gender ministers on 26 June 2026 as part of preparations, ahead of South Africa hosting the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2026, SAnews reported.
From boardrooms to farms to peace tables, this partnership puts women’s empowerment at the centre of Southern Africa’s growth story — exactly where it belongs.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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