Patience Makwele
Child marriage is continuing to trap young Namibian girls in a cycle of school dropout, early motherhood and unemployment, raising questions about why the practice persists despite years of interventions and awareness campaigns.
Studies conducted by the ministry of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimate that 18.4% of girls in Namibia marry or enter unions before the age of 18, with the highest prevalence recorded in Kavango East and Kavango West, followed by Kunene and Zambezi regions.
Child rights campaigners say the consequences extend far beyond childhood, with many girls who enter early unions leaving school prematurely and struggling to secure employment later in life.
“I thought moving in with him would make life easier because my family was struggling financially,” said a 20-year-old mother from Kavango West, who entered a union at the age of 16 and requested anonymity.
“I left school and now I have two children and no job. If I had stayed in school, my life would probably be different.”
A 19-year-old from Zambezi shared a similar experience, saying poverty and a lack of opportunities influenced her decision to move in with an older partner at the age of 18.
“My parents could no longer afford my school needs. I thought I was escaping poverty but I became dependent. I want to study again, but it is difficult when you have a child and no income,” she said.
National leader of the 100Million Fair Share Campaign, Rebekka Ngilalulwa, said child marriage remains a major barrier to education and economic empowerment.
“When children are married off or enter unions at a young age, they are often denied opportunities to complete their education and build independent futures. Child marriage perpetuates cycles of poverty and dependency, particularly among girls from already vulnerable households,” she said.
Ngilalulwa said poverty, harmful social norms and limited awareness of the consequences of child marriage continue to drive the practice in several communities.
According to the ministry’s child marriage study, poverty, cultural practices, teenage pregnancy and limited educational opportunities are among the key factors contributing to early unions in Namibia.
The study also found that many cases remain underreported because some marriages and cohabitation arrangements occur informally and are never officially registered.
Campaigners say the persistence of child marriage raises broader concerns about unemployment and social inequality.
Girls who leave school because of early marriages often enter adulthood without qualifications or vocational skills, making it difficult to find employment and increasing their vulnerability to gender-based violence and economic dependence.
Ngilalulwa said ending child marriage requires more than awareness campaigns.
“We need targeted interventions in the most affected communities, greater investment in education and stronger economic support for vulnerable families. As long as poverty remains widespread, many children will continue to be exposed to circumstances that place them at risk,” she said.
She urged parents, traditional leaders and communities to challenge harmful practices and prioritise children’s education and wellbeing.
As Namibia grapples with high youth unemployment and persistent poverty, child rights advocates warn that every girl forced out of school by child marriage represents lost human potential and another generation at risk of remaining trapped in deprivation.
