Windhoek: Participants at the eighth Parliament Session of the Rural Women with Men as Partners on Monday expressed their commitment to breaking down structural barriers and advancing sustainable support services for rural communities. Rural Women Parliament with Men as Partners is a platform that offers grassroots women and men access to information on socio-economic and political developments within the country.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the session is taking place in Windhoek under the theme, 'Breaking barriers: advancing sustainable support and services for rural women and men.' At the event, National Council Vice-Chairperson Victoria Kauma emphasised that the platform aims to include every Namibian in the development chain, irrespective of their geographic location. 'Through inclusive engagements such as this, we reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring that no Namibian, whether residing in the most remote village or within the heart of our urban centres, is left behind in our pursuit of sustainable development,' she said.

Gelasius Muhembo, a representative of the National Council in the Kavango East Region, said there is a need to empower women in the development and agricultural sector in remote areas. 'Our main purpose to come here is to empower women in our rural areas, in Agriculture to sustain the living and the livelihood of the community,' he said.

In addition, Diina Klemens, a member of the National Council, added that the initiative aims to advance participatory democracy by providing women in rural areas with a platform to share their views and contribute to community development. 'We are in a good position to highlight the challenges that are faced by women in rural areas and also recommend solutions for the betterment of the rural community at large,' Klemens said.