Oshikoto rapes soar by 500%

Domestic violence and rapes reported to the police in the Oshikoto Region have skyrocketed by a massive 879% and 500% respectively.This was confirmed by regional governor Henock Kankoshi during his State of the Region Address (SORA) in Omuthiya. According to Kankoshi 94 incidents of rape were recorded during 2017/18, which is a 522% increase compared to the 18 cases reported the previous year. Kankoshi reiterated his comments made during last year's SORA, when he said women are increasingly being raped when they return home after late night drinking at cuca shops.“Rapes are committed late at night, as women are leaving cuca shops on their way home, and they fall prey to suspects who are out at night on the lookout for vulnerable victims who are under the influence of alcohol and can hardly defend themselves,” Kankoshi said. He added that some of the rapes are perpetrated by guardians who leave their children in the care of male domestic workers or cattle herders, while they are at cuca shops. Apart from the tremendous increase in rape cases reported, cases of gender-based violence (GBV) have also increased exponentially.Kankoshi described this as very serious and alarming. He said 211 GBV cases were reported to the Oshikoto police during the year under review, which is 879% more than the 24 cases reported the previous year. “Domestic violence is at an alarming rate in the region,” Kankoshi said. He also revealed the number of murder cases in the region increased from 10 to 28, while stock theft cases increased from 36 to 154.Kankoshi said awareness campaigns are ongoing to address the crime situation in the region. “Awareness campaigns are ongoing in the region to educate about prevention measures. School children are also targeted (and told) about the dangers of alcohol abuse, peer pressure, crime in general, and criminal activities such as indulging in gangs. Children are also educated on issues such as teenage pregnancy and how to avoid being alone in danger zones,” the governor added.KENYA KAMBOWE

Oshikoto rapes soar by 500%

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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Oshikoto rapes soar by 500%

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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