Traditional leaders urged to fight GBV

URBAN development minister Peya Mushelenga on Friday urged traditional authorities to fight gender-based violence, tribalism and corruption within their communities.

Mushelenga was speaking at the closing session of the annual Council of Traditional Authorities’ meeting that took place in Windhoek last week.

“I urge you all to continue exercising your traditional leadership roles in your communities by jointly fighting social evils affecting society, such as gender-based violence, tribalism, regionalism and corruption,” he said.

Mushelenga urged the leaders to be transparent and fair when appointing new members of their councils when the five-year tenures of the old members end.

“They should be people who have the public’s interest (at heart), and not those who are after personal interest; people who understand the rule of law, and not those who will circumvent statutory rules and procedures; and people who will advise you without fear, favour or prejudice,” said the minister.

He also reiterated President Hage Geingob’s message that the leaders must use customary laws instead of modern courts to solve their disputes.

Speaking to The Namibian on the sidelines of the meeting, chief Petrus Kooper of the Kai //Khaun Traditional Authority from the Hoachanas area expressed satisfaction about the discussions during the week-long meeting, which included the upcoming land conference and sand mining.

Another chief, hompa Eugen Siwombe Kudumo of the Uukwangali Traditional Authority, was happy that the topic of sanitation was also part of the programme.

“This issue of having people still going to the bushes is not safe, especially for women. The topic is critical to me because of the lack of toilets in my area. They also do not have water, and use the Kavango River, which is then contaminated. People could get cholera and hepatitis E,” said Siwombe.