Statement by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary celebration of the Pan African Women’s Day,
at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on 2 August 2025
[Statement in the wording of the post on the Facebook page of the Namibian Presidency, omitting the formal address of the dignitaries and other participants present; ed.]
“Thursday the 31’st July was a historical day in the struggle for independence and self-determination for Africa. A day, in 1962 when African Women gathered in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and formed the Pan African Women Organization (PAWO). The first Pan African organization to raise against colonialism thus, becoming the foundation for Africans’ fight for the independence of the continent, which all of us are enjoying today.
[…]
Director of Ceremonies,
[…]
The theme of this year’s PAWO day, “Advancing Social and Economic Justice for African Women through Reparation.” Is inspired by the AU theme for 2025, namely “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
The message in those themes clearly tells us that this day represents a powerful moment to honour the indomitable spirit, resilience, and revolutionary contributions of African women in the struggle for justice, equality, and self-determination on the continent and in the Diaspora. The theme also calls for the restoration of justice in Africa through reparations.
A process that Namibia has started 19 years ago when the Namibian parliament passed a motion calling on Germany to accept that they have committed Genocide in Namibia whereby, they have to apologize and pay reparations
Subsequently, in 2015 the government of Namibia working with the decedents of victims of the genocide have been engaging the German government on Genocide, Apology and Reparations. It is hoped that a common ground would be reached between the two parties on the subject matter.
[…]
Director of Ceremonies,
By enlarge, this year’s theme as elaborated within the AU programs has the following objectives:
To advocate for comprehensive, inter-sectoral reparative justice frameworks that confront historical injustices and current systematic inequalities faced by African women and girls; and strengthen the capacities of African women overall;
To amplify the voices of women and girls, particularly those from the indigenous minority and conflict-affected communities in the decision-making process related to reparations, transnational justice and gender equality;
To build capacity and consciousness among women, youth, grassroots movements and civil society. This will enable us to better understand and mobilise support for reparations and transformative justice;
[…]
Director of Ceremonies,
The rich history of resistance in Namibia, where women have actively participated was not only confined to their participation in the liberation struggle but also in cultivating and defending their land, and fighting against systematic oppression.
This history shall serve as a motivation to the current and future generations. The wounds that were inflicted by the colonial oppression, land dispossession, gender-based violence, and economic exclusion should never be forgotten rather it should shape our present realities and harden our resolve to stand up against injustices everywhere. We should also be alert against new colonialism, particularly, now that the geopolitics is changing very fast.
[…].”
- Full statement by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on the occasion of the Pan African Women’s Day, Independent Stadium, Windhoek, 2 August 2025, according to the post on the Facebook page of the Namibian Presidency on 2 August 2025 (last checked in August 2025)
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