Khomas the violence hotspot

The Khomas region has recorded the highest number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases, with 3 302 reported between January 2020 and December 2023.

The region is followed by the Ohangwena region with 1 807 cases, the Hardap region with 1 746 and the Oshana region with 1 459.

This is according to statistics the Namibian Police provided yesterday.

At national level, the country recorded 17 669 GBV cases in the last four years, with 14 349 of the victims being women.

In 2022, there were 4 731 cases, 4 516 in 2023, 4 344 in 2021, and the lowest number of 4 078 in 2020.

The police also revealed that 81,2% of the cases reported involved female victims, while 18,78% were male victims.

The regions with the lowest number of cases reported were the Kavango West (408), Kunene (476), Omaheke (502), and Zambezi (730) regions.

According to the statistics, the majority of the cases arose from common assault, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property.

‘MAJOR NATIONAL ISSUE’

Senior social worker at the #BeFree Youth Campus, Pefimbo Shipunda, yesterday said GBV is a major national issue rooted in gender inequality, involving one person believing they have power over another.

“All of us need to challenge the status quo and stop relying on various beliefs as excuses for gender-based violence, which allows the cycle of violence to continue in our societies,” she said.

Shipunda provided examples of people in abusive relationships, such as marriages, who feel they cannot get a divorce due to cultural norms and other social issues, such as economic dependence on their partners or the belief that married people have more value in society.

Social, gender equality and human rights activist Rosa Namises yesterday said violence has been increasing significantly over the years, with not enough being done to address it.

She highlighted the need for various laws and regulations, such as the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and the Labour Act, to be more strictly enforced.

“Yes, the laws are being implemented, but they need to be brought to life, because they seem to have no impact.” she said.

Namises commended the government on amending the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and emphasised the importance of amending laws that are no longer effective.

“The act has been there, but the cases of gender-based violence have been piling up, court cases are taking long, dockets are going missing, cases are still being withdrawn due to fear, and communities are not empowered,” she said.

Namises also highlighted the importance of creating awareness and informing communities to take responsibility and be aware of the laws protecting them.

“People only speak about it, but they are not acting on it. If I am successful as a presidential candidate, I will declare gender-based violence a national crisis, which would call upon Namibians to act on it,” she said.

Namises said this is not a rallying point, but a continuation of the work she has been doing before she started contesting for the Presidency.

‘STATE OF EMERGENCY’

“Declaring a state of emergency allows us to respond to a national crisis we are facing in the country. The crisis will enable us to provide human and material resources to respond to gender-based violence,” she said.

Namises said there is a need to protect vulnerable communities which are open to being murdered, raped, and assaulted.

“There is a need to protect them and to protect men against themselves. We have done protests, demonstrations, petitions, asked the police to show up and cut down trees, 16 days of activism, among other things, yet the statistics are increasing,” she said.

Declaring a state of emergency is the most powerful tool to unite Namibians to fight GBV, she said.

Namises encouraged people to seek help, instead of targeting the weakest members of society.

Former Karibib Town Council chief executive Lydia Kandetu yesterday said she is having sleepless nights over GBV.
She announced yetserday that she would also be running for president.

“As a mother, every night I wonder if my children are the next victims of gender-based violence,” she said.

Kandetu said the issue should be addressed by women, as they are the ones most affected.

“There is a need to involve traditional leaders, young people, community-based organisations, and the entire Namibian community.

“The lack of shelters where women can seek help and be protected when in danger is a contributing factor to the high statistics,” she said.

“Creating environments for people through innovation is one of my key points as a presidential candidate,” she said.

Additionally, Kandetu called upon women to know their worth and value while bearing in mind that God can also protect them, especially when the system has failed them.