Rundu councillor urges women not to burn partners’ properties

Rundu Urban Constituency councillor Vicky Kauma has urged women to refrain from retaliating in relationships by torching their partners' homes.Kauma warned that such actions lead to profound emotional and material devastation for both parties.Speaking yesterday during the handover of blankets to 42 fire victims—an initiative supported by Bank Windhoek’s Rundu branch—Kauma expressed both gratitude and concern for the increase in the number of shack fires, many of which are reportedly started deliberately during domestic disputes.“That house is your life and property, and when you burn it, it brings damage to yourself,” she said. “That is why we have social workers, constituency councillors and pastors to deal with relationship problems.”Fire is deathAmong the recipients of the donation was 47-year-old Joseph Anton from Rundu’s Tumweneni informal settlement, whose shack was recently set alight—allegedly by his girlfriend. Kauma said Anton’s case was one of several she has seen where women resort to arson in response to relationship issues.“It brings pain to the victim and the perpetrator. Fire is death,” she said solemnly.Kauma’s heartfelt address painted a stark picture of the emotional and economic toll shack fires take on residents, many of whom lose all their belongings with no means to recover. She likened the destruction to death, noting the psychological trauma survivors often endure.“A house burned through fire is like a person who has died. Some people become mentally unstable afterwards. They start talking alone, going around looking for food, clothing, shelter—just trying to survive,” she said.Government supportThe 42 blankets handed over are a small but meaningful gesture of support for those affected, including victims of fires from last year, early this year, and even last week. Kauma thanked Bank Windhoek for stepping in where government support falls short.“Being a constituency councillor heading an office with no resources, it is a burden. But today, I feel relieved because you, Bank Windhoek, spread your hand and came on board to assist,” she said. “You have responded to the cry of our people. This will go down in the books of the Rundu Urban Constituency.”She also touched on the broader issue of limited budgets for constituency offices and the need for legislation to allocate resources directly to them.“Our salaries are being shared with community members. Sometimes you open your bag and give the little you have because people come to the office crying,” she said.The councillor urged other companies to follow Bank Windhoek’s example by responding to community needs through their social responsibility programmes.“To the 42 members, this blanket is not just cloth. It is hope. It is to wipe your tears,” she said.Kauma cited President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, whose slogan—“We are too few to be poor”—she praised as a call to action.“We are three million people in this country. Why should we suffer? We must respond to each other’s pain. Today, Bank Windhoek did that,” Kauma said.Bank Windhoek officials referred Namibian Sun to headquarters in Windhoek for comment. The spokesperson Jacqueline Pack was in a meeting when contacted for comment.

Rundu councillor urges women not to burn partners’ properties

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

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Rundu councillor urges women not to burn partners’ properties

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

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