N$4 500 fine for impregnating a married woman

Fornication in the North has just become more expensive with traditional authorities upping their fines that are normally paid in cattle, by an increase of N$500 per head. Cattle were normally valued at N$1 000 per head, but this value has now increased to N$1 500, hiking the fine for a man impregnating a married woman from N$3 000 to N$4 500 (or three head of cattle). A married woman found committing adultery will now be fined N$1 500 or one head of cattle. The increases apply to the eight Ovawambo traditional authorities in the North and were agreed to at a recent summit. The leaders who were present are from the Ondonga, Oukwanyama, Uukwambi, Ongandjera, Uukwaludhi, Uukolonkadhi, Ombalantu and Ombadja traditional authorities. This will be the third adjustment on the price of cattle in eight years, with the value for one head of cattle pegged at N$600 in 2006 and at N$1 000 in 2010. According to the new law, villagers who commit a crime of murder have to pay the deceased’s family 10 head of cattle or N$15 000, which includes a punishment of N$13 500 for taking someone’s life and N$1 500 for the reconciliation of the families. Those accused of impregnating a young woman will pay two head of cattle or N$3 000. In the event that a man impregnates a girl as a result of rape and the girl is under 18 and/or is living with a disability or is mentally disturbed, or is a learner or student, the offender is required to pay three head of cattle or N$4 500. The new laws further stipulate that if a villager seriously injures someone either in the arm or leg or eye, five head of cattle or alternatively N$7 500 should be paid to the victim for each of the listed body parts injured. An injury to the head carries a penalty of N$1 200. Traditional leaders have also decided to impose penalties on people accused of insulting someone’s body part. According to the set laws, insulting someone’s physical body part from the head to the navel will result in a N$100 penalty while insulting someone’s body part from the waist down carries a N$200 penalty. Traditional leaders decided not to put a value with theft, with those present reaching a consensus that each traditional leader will decide on the penalty depending on the value of the stolen goods. It is further stipulated that those accused of spoiling natural water used for human and animal consumption will pay a fine of N$200. The fee for the allocation of a mahangu field is one head of cattle or N$600, while land for setting up a shebeen is N$ 150. Chief of the Uukwambi and spokesperson of the Ovawambo traditional authorities, Herman Iipumbu confirmed the new fines. He added that while the punishment for the crimes remained the same, the increase in penalties was as a result of the adjustment on the value of one head of cattle. OSHAKATI MERJA IILEKA