Calling Minister Doreen Sioka

We make a call on the child welfare minister, Doreen Sioka. Madam Minister, where are you? Daily, we have reports of children killed, raped and trafficked, often by relatives and people they know and trust. We report on the babies of the homeless mothers, the street kids of Gobabis who have returned, and so on and so on. We talk on social media about the state of the Namibian community and its omnipresent poverty. We receive the daily crime bulletins from the Namibian police and are surprised when there is not one incident of some sort of violence to children.

Yet, Madam Minister, we hear nothing from you. In fact, the only media report we have of anything you have said, save your comments in Swakopmund that we need more women in politics.

Let us look at the figures: The Namibian police investigated 1 661 cases of rape of minors below the age of 18 over a period of four years from 2013 to 2016. Of these victims, 1 577 were girls and 84 were boys. In total, the number of police investigations of child and teenage rape allegations over a span of 13 years was 5 524, from 2003 to 2016.

Forgive us if we find it a little absurd that you have nothing to say. Nothing. Not even a statement expressing your shock and horror. Even that would suffice Madam Minister.

You are ultimately the child welfare minister. Even if you are a political appointee, it is certainly in your mandate to say something, anything.

Your complete and utter silence is disturbing and many are of the view that this is why things are the way they are. The public and the civil society groups, activists and community leaders are saying far more than you.

And it really is a shame Madam Minister. For while you may be a woman of few words, you do ultimately hold far more political clout than the rest of us and you are the one who can truly make a difference.

At the moment, it appears that you have yet to pick a side, or an opinion for that matter.

We urge you to speak up. Soon.