Almost four people are raped in Namibia on a daily basis.
The latest stastics released by Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo show that 666 rape cases were reported countrywide between 1 January and 30 June this year. The Ohangwena region is topping the list with 102 cases.
Shikongo says 100 rape cases were reported in the Oshikoto region, followed by the Omusati region with 74 cases.
These statistics come at a time that the country is experencing an increase in cases of rape, murder and assault.
The police say the Oshana region reported a total of 65 cases, followed by the Khomas region with 60 cases, Otjozondjupa with 50 cases and the Erongo region with 48 cases.
Other regions recorded between 13 and 35 cases.
Shikongo says a total of 171 murder cases were reported in the same period.
“The highest number of murder cases were reported in the Khomas region with 32, followed by the Omusati region with 19 and the Oshikoto region with 18 cases,” he says.
Shikongo says the Erongo region reported a total of 15 cases, followed by Otjozondjupa region with 15 cases and the Zambezi region with 11 cases, respectively.
Other regions recorded between nine and four cases.
Shikongo on Monday said most murder cases involve Namibians murdering other Namibians.
He urged the public to collaborate with the police to fight crime.
“These people are being attacked at drinking places and when travelling at night from clubs. The police cannot be everywhere, but we are going to continue with our crime prevention strategy,” he said.
He encouraged communities to form neighbourhood watch initiatives.
“We are concerned when young people are dying, when houses are being broken into and people are going missing. Let’s work together with the police. Speak to your regional commanders and find ways to fight crime,” Shikongo says.
He says officers should patrol their respective areas supervised by their station commanders.
SKYROCKETING
Shikongo said a total of 5 626 assault cases with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm were reported in the period under review, with 1 070 cases reported in the Khomas region.
Out of that, 671 assault cases were reported in the Oshana region, while 602 were reported in the Oshikoto region.
“It is worth reporting that these assault cases do not involve stabbings only, but also victims who were beaten with other objects such as sticks, stones, iron, bottles etc. “The age group involved in these criminal activities is mostly those between 18 and 45 years old and mostly men,” Shikongo said.
He said the police are committed to assisting the public.
HEADACHE
Omusati regional commander Ismael Basson this week said the region recorded about 88 criminal cases between January and July.
He said the Tsandi constituency contributed largely to these crimes, ranging from rape and murder to gender-based violence.
“Hardly a week passes by without a rape case being reported, coming from fathers, uncles and other close male members who are supposed to be the guardian angels of these minors.
“This gives me sleepless nights, but I will not relent, the struggle shall continue. Join me in this fight,” Basson said.
He said many rape cases are committed by perpetrators known to their victims and they are often protected by their familes.
Basson said he has been engaging with communities at various churches in the region as part of an intervention to combat crime.
‘DRASTIC MEASURES’
Ohangwena police spokesperson warrant Andreas Nghiyolwa says his region has put drastic measure in place to combat crime.
“Yes, rape cases are on the rise and they are hard to detect, because in many cases they are not reported at all, or reported late. The family members of the perpetrators often try to cover them up,” he says. He says in many cases teachers are the ones reporting rape cases.
NATIONAL CRISIS
Veronica Theron, a gender and child protection specialist in the Office of the First Lady, describes the announced figures as a national crisis.
She says rape incidents are often ignored and not given the immediate attention they deserve.
“I am not surprised by those statistics at all, because I deal with these issues on a daily basis and I see the brutality out there. These issues are not getting the serious attention they deserve at all levels.
“These figures are a national crisis,” Theron says.
She says they could be higher than those provided, as many cases are not reported.
“The number might be bigger than that because those are the cases reported by those who are brave. Many people suffer in silence and do not report these cases.
“In terms of murder, many perpetrators are always trying to get rid of evidence. If they think the victim is the evidence, they murder them.
“Rape is the most under-reported crime, because many think it is shameful,” she says.
“The cases that are reported sometimes take long to be finalised. As long as we are not all coming together and realise this is a crisis and scale up aggressively to raise awareness it will not get better,” Theron says.
“We have a parliamentary standing committee on gender and others. What are they doing to address this?”
Read more: 4 people raped in Namibia every day
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