‘Hunting season’ continues on Namibian women, girls

Namibian women and girls continue to lose their lives or are sexually violated across the country.
In one of the latest incidents, a 48-year-old man from Oshakati murdered his girlfriend in cold blood before turning the gun on himself. This was after an argument over a cellphone.
According to the police, the man shot his 28-year-old girlfriend in the head with a pistol in Oshakati on Thursday after the woman demanded that he return her cellphone, which he grabbed from her. They both died on the spot.

Grandfather rapes nine-year-old
In a separate incident, the rape of a nine-year-old girl, allegedly by her 50-year-old grandfather, was reported on Saturday in Rehoboth.
According to the police, the child had been raped on multiple occasions during 2019, however, her grandmother only discovered what had happened on Saturday. The suspect has not been arrested.
Meanwhile at Aranos, a 16-year-old girl was raped by a 25-year-old man on Friday at the Nuwerus location.

Minors raped
In another incident at Okongo, two minor girls were raped by a 48-year-old man between August and September.
According to the police, one of the girls is nine years old and a neighbour of the man, while the other is his 10-year-old stepdaughter.
The rapes occurred in his bedroom at his homestead and were revealed after the nine-year-old alerted her parents. The suspect has been arrested.
At Eenhana, a 14-year-old girl was raped on Friday by a 19-year-old man in the bushes at Oshipala village.
The suspect followed the girl from a water tap and raped her. He has been arrested.

Man raped
In a separate incident at Okuryangava, a 21-year-old man was allegedly attacked and raped on his way home by two unknown men armed with knives on Saturday.
The men undressed the victim and raped him and thereafter stole his cellphone. Investigations are ongoing.
In another incident at Otavi in the Saamstaan location, a 49-year-old man, who is reportedly mentally challenged, hit an eight-year-old child on the head with a stick, causing profuse bleeding.
The child was rushed to the Otavi clinic, but succumbed to her injuries. The suspect has been arrested.

Geingob ‘concerned’
President Hage Geingob said he is concerned about the “cruel acts of violence taking place in our society, especially armed robberies and violence against women and children”.
He was speaking at the burial service of the late Andy Kazekondjo at Otjongombe in the Omaheke Region on Saturday. Kazekondjo (29) was shot dead recently while protecting his sister from being raped by an intruder in Katutura’s Havana location.
“The government will continue to fight these evils with all might to ensure that our people are protected and safeguarded to lead peaceful lives.
“Our law enforcement units and the judicial system will do everything possible to ensure that those responsible for the death of Andy Kazekondjo are brought to justice,” Geingob said.