Ongwediva — WOMEN in the National Council (NC) have called upon women in Namibia to make themselves available as candidates to stand for the country-wide regional and local authority elections scheduled for November this year.

The Deputy Chairperson of the NC, Margaret Mensah-Williams, said at a press conference held at the Ongwediva Trade Fair centre, last Saturday, she and other female NC members are working in communities to encourage women to stand for election.

She also said they are also reporting back to other women, about their work as women Members for Parliament, over the past six years.

They are holding discussions with all political party representatives regarding progress on women's empowerment, meeting youth groups about challenges concerning unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, lack of entertainment, to find out if human trafficking victims have shelters for safe keeping, to meet all directors and management in education, to meet all non-government organisations (NGO), religious institutions and police representatives. According to Mensah-Williams they must go to the prisons and where the youth go to drink and use alcohol. She said these societal ills are not only the government's responsibility, but must be tackled by all, including the churches, the private sector, NGOs and so on.

Mensah-Williams said communities are not happy with some religious leaders who themselves become unethical, do immoral things like impregnating women and girls and thus not serving as role models.

They are also recommending that religious studies be introduced into schools so children can learn about loving their neighbours and respecting themselves.

"I know that Namibia is a secular state, but we should give people a choice whether or not they want to be taught Bible Studies, because currently the choice has been taken away completely, thereby taking away the right of those who want, and need, to study the Bible as well."

Women in the regions also recommended that the hours of places selling alcohol be brought down to a 22h00 closing time, that the price of alcohol and tobacco be increased, and that the increased levy be used for developing initiatives in the community. They want centres assisting victims of violence and abuse, that traditional authorities become more involved along with Government, to educate people about HIV-AIDS and alcohol abuse.

The NC women wants to see greater involvement of churches and authorities in instilling traditional norms, values, believes and encourage around-the-fireplace education sessions. Mensah-Williams said parents should stop being afraid of disciplining their children, "and those who are Christians, should reintroduce Bible studies in their houses because this will bring families together and teach them to love each other."

Women in the regions visited, Mensah-Williams said, recommended that Police officers be better educated on the services they are supposed to extend to the public, including being able to open cases of domestic abuse, even when victims are too afraid to do so themselves.

She said police and immigration officers need to be trained to identify possible cases of human trafficking by taking note of the body language of people they encounter.

Mensah-Williams also called on local authorities, especially in the Oshana region, not to evict the "memes selling food, arresting them and making them to pay fines".