Namibia Confronts Child Neglect Crisis: Over 3,300 Cases Recorded Since 2023

1 770 girls and 1 549 boys neglected in two years Namibia’s child welfare ministry says it has recorded 3 319 child neglect cases since 2023, mainly driven by unemployment and their parents’ substance abuse. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has raised concerns over the growing crisis of child neglect in the country, revealing that the Oshikoto region has recorded the highest number of cases. Ministry spokesperson Lukas Haufiku says 1 770 of these cases involved girls, while 1 549 involved boys. The Oshikoto region alone recorded 661 cases between 2023 and 2025, followed by the Hardap region with 393 cases. “The Oshana region recorded the least, with 79 of which 37 involve girls and 42 boys,” he says. While the recorded number of cases is alarming, the ministry’s acting chief social worker, Mwalengwa Aipinge, says the real danger often lies in those going unnoticed. Speaking to DesertFM last week, Aipinge said child neglect is frequently overlooked, but its impact on children is long-lasting and harmful. She said unemployment remains the biggest contributor, alongside substance abuse and family instability. “In Namibia, neglect may involve a child’s basic needs not being met. Neglect also involves them being unsupervised. It affects their school career, medical care and whether they have proper housing,” she said. Aipinge said fear and social pressure keep families and communities silent about neglect, despite the seriousness of the matter. She said some communities view neglect as normal, while others are afraid of the consequences of speaking out. “These challenges overlap and affect how well children are being cared for,” she said. Aipinge said the ministry supports neglected children across the country, including remote villages, with partners such as One Economy Foundation and LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia. She said preventing child neglect cannot be left to the government alone, urging parents and communities to play an active role by meeting children’s emotional and not only physical needs. She urged struggling families to seek help instead of suffering in silence. Social worker Dorothy Katumbe during a recent community engagement said the ministry would tighten measures to combat the rising cases of child neglect in Namibia. This was after the ministry recorded 817 cases of child neglect between January and September last year. Katumbe warned that parents who leave children unattended would face punishment. “Parents charged with such cases will be fined between N$2 000 and N$50 000 or face a prison sentence,” she said. Katumbe said most parents of neglected children spend time at shebeens, leaving them at home alone. She said leaving children at home alone is a serious offence and the ministry will punish such parents. “Do not leave the children at home alone. Feed them, take them to school and make sure they have birth certificates,” Katumbe warned. LACK OF RESOURCES Meanwhile, Oshikoto regional governor Sacky Kathindi says child neglect is not always intentional but often due to a lack of resources. He says poverty and unemployment put parents under immense pressure and limit their ability to meet their children’s basic needs. “Another major factor is alcohol or drug abuse, which undermines parental responsibility and judgement. Family breakdown because of these domestic problems and absent parents further weaken children’s support structures,” he says. Kathindi also attributes neglect to a lack of parenting skills and awareness, especially among young parents. He says his office will strengthen collaboration between social workers, schools and care providers, including traditional leaders to improve the early identification and reporting of child neglect cases. “We will prioritise parental support and education programmes which will focus on positive parenting and the responsibilities of caregivers, and we will spread awareness to support economic empowerment and initiatives for families as financial stability is critical,” he says. Kathindi says his office will also start monitoring the implementation of programmes and projects in the region, praising platforms like The Namibian for helping to spread awareness and informing the public on important issues.