ROYAL HUSTLERS

Emma Kantema-Gaomas - Driven to serve

Born and raised in the Kavango region during the height of the liberation movement, she was one of the thousands of children introduced to the Swapo party through its youth wing – the Swapo Pioneers.

Today, Emma Kantema-Gaomas has earned her stripes as a member of the government of the Republic of Namibia, currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth & National Service. In this special interview for the Royal Hustlers segment on 99FM, she speaks about the challenges and dynamics of being a woman in governance. She also shares her career journey and the life lessons that helped to shape her.

Poised to lead

Even as a child, Emma saw the prevailing inequalities in society and wanted an opportunity to change the status quo. “All I dreamt of was to be in a position to effect change, especially to uplift the Namibian girl,” she says while reflecting on her dreams as a pioneer.

Coming from an underprivileged background, she faced the daily struggles that many disadvantaged children face. “I grew up like an ordinary Namibian girl”, she says.

As the firstborn of five girls, she became the “deputy parent” to her sisters and despite living in a hugely patriarchal society, her parents were strict on their expectation that she take her academics seriously. They instilled in her a passion to study hard and the belief that being a girl should never be a limitation in her dreams. Because of this backing she grew into an ambitious young woman who was determined to succeed.

A Royal Hustler in the making, young Emma became a library prefect in school as a teen, working in the school library while her peers enjoyed their lunch breaks. “It wasn’t a paid job but again, I always wanted to serve, I wanted to be part of a solution,” she says proudly.

She later became a school prefect and continued showing diligence and resolve to succeed. She excelled in her studies.

Grounded

Years later, Emma is as grounded as she was in her youth. Describing herself as a religious person, she says the one daily activity she never goes without is prayer.

She credits this sense of grounding to her parents who she says taught her to respect others – especially elders – to have self-discipline, and to be disciplined.

Determined to serve

“We need to deliver service to the people, and that drives me,” Emma says.

While she acknowledges that there are challenges which make it difficult for the government to deliver on promises, she says that there is potential for more to be done. She is passionate about effecting change and is grateful for the opportunity to do so through her work. In her current role she strives to motivate her staff to do their part in delivering on the promises that the government has made to Namibians. “I always try to surround myself with people who have value to add, I believe that everyone in the office has a role to play in delivering service to the people,” she says.

Taking note of the gender barriers that women face in taking up leadership positions, she encourages those who do make it to help other women access those same opportunities.

“Us as women in leading positions should strive to create ladders for other women to climb – creating ladders by removing the barriers,” she notes.

As for Namibians in general, she reiterates the need to be hopeful that the country will go further.

These are her words of wisdom for Namibians at large: “Remember we have a Namibia to build. Whether you’re in the private sector or the public sector, let’s get on and let’s all be part of this Namibian house that we want to build.”

Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99FM every Monday to Friday from 07h35, with Namibian Royal Hustlers featured on Tuesdays and Thursdays.