22/06/2026
From Beijing to the Hive: A Sweet Call to Namibian Women
By Hilya T. Nghiwete – Social Entrepreneur, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – 20.06.2026
What a beautiful coincidence unfolded in Dar es Salaam last night—one that connects history, leadership, and the humble honeybee.
At a heartfelt meet-and-greet dinner, H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia, reunited with Tanzanian families who hosted her decades ago as a young SWAPO representative. The evening was made even more special by the presence of Mama Gertrude Mongella, a towering figure in Africa's gender equality movement.
Here is what binds these two remarkable women:
- Mama Gertrude Mongella – Secretary-General of the 1995 Beijing Women's Conference, passionate beekeeper with 50 beehives, and keynote speaker at last night's dinner.
- H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – Rapporteur General and Africa's Chief Negotiator at Beijing 1995, Patron of Beekeeping Associations in Namibia, and Guest of Honour at the meet-and-greet.
- Both are co-architects of the landmark Beijing Platform for Action, which reshaped the global agenda for women's rights. From co-authoring that historic blueprint to buzzing about bees, their reunion was a powerful reminder that women's leadership takes many forms,from conference halls to community hives.
A Model for Africa
But the coincidence does not end there. Yesterday, parallel to the Tanzania-Namibia Business Forum, officially opened by Presidents Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan and Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah—a landmark tripartite agreement was signed between:
- !Nkonongo Community College (Namibia)
- APIMONDIA – the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations
- Kijiji Cha Nyuki Co. – a Tanzanian beekeeping village that serves as a model for Africa in commercial apiculture and community enterprise
This partnership is not just about honey. It is about:
- Skills development and education
- Job creation and enterprise
- Environmental conservation and living in harmony with bees
- Positioning Africa as a leader in sustainable apiculture
- Most importantly, convincing African young girls and boys to remain in Africa and build the Africa we want, instead of spending days in high seas to cross to Europe
Kijiji Cha Nyuki has already trained over 5,000 Tanzanians and aims to produce 40,000 metric tonnes of honey annually. This model is now being shared with Namibia through !Nkonongo Community College, creating a pathway for skills transfer, youth employment, and sustainable development.
A Call to Namibian Women
Sisters of Namibia, this is your moment.
Just as Mama Mongella and President Nandi-Ndaitwah stood side by side to shape the future of women's rights in 1995, they now stand together again, this time to champion a movement that empowers women through beekeeping.
!Nkonongo Community College is opening its doors. The partnership with APIMONDIA and Kijiji Cha Nyuki offers training, mentorship, and a pathway to economic independence. Beekeeping requires patience, care, and resilience, qualities that women possess in abundance. It is an enterprise that does not require vast land or heavy capital, making it accessible to rural women, youth, and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Beyond economics, beekeeping teaches us about harmony, how to coexist with nature, how to work collectively, and how to produce without destroying. Bees are Africa's silent partners in pollination, food security, and biodiversity. By investing in apiculture, we are investing in the future of our continent.
Let us answer this call. Let us learn from the bees, creatures of order, cooperation, and harmony. Let us build livelihoods, protect our environment, and honour the legacy of two women who have shown us that leadership is about serving others.
From Beijing to the beehive, the buzz is clear: African women are building the future.
It is no coincidence that two architects of women's rights now champion beekeeping. It is a sign, a sweet reminder that our liberation is intertwined with our ability to sustain ourselves, our communities, and our planet. The honeybee does not ask for permission to build its hive; it simply works. Likewise, we must not wait for opportunities to be handed to us. We must create them, with our hands, our hearts, and our shared vision for a prosperous Africa.
The time is now. The hive is waiting. Let us build together.
