Swapo morally bankrupt
Our front page today has a rather sharp contrast on the thorny subject of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.
On the one hand is the gruesome discovery of what everyone believes are the remains of Shannon Wasserfall at Walvis Bay; on the other is the confirmation that Swapo has endorsed Rundu Rural constituency councillor Michael Shikongo, who has an active GBV case in court, as its candidate for that constituency in next month's election.
In fact, councillor Shikongo is expected in court on 18 October in relation to allegations that he assaulted a female pensioner until she coughed blood.
That's four weeks to the date on which Rundu Rural constituency must, from Swapo's perspective, re-elect him into office. This is another reminder of the poor leadership we have come to witness from Swapo as it relates to GBV and femicide.
While Shikongo remains innocent until proven guilty, the allegations are very serious and are formally in court.
In the same manner that disgraced former ministers Sacky Shanghala and Bernhardt Esau were recalled from parliament while not found guilty, the principle of fairness should dictate the same in Shikongo's case.
But clearly to Swapo, GBV and femicide ring no bells of seriousness. Members who wish to assault women and contest for office the next day on the party ticket are, seemingly, welcome to do so.
On the one hand is the gruesome discovery of what everyone believes are the remains of Shannon Wasserfall at Walvis Bay; on the other is the confirmation that Swapo has endorsed Rundu Rural constituency councillor Michael Shikongo, who has an active GBV case in court, as its candidate for that constituency in next month's election.
In fact, councillor Shikongo is expected in court on 18 October in relation to allegations that he assaulted a female pensioner until she coughed blood.
That's four weeks to the date on which Rundu Rural constituency must, from Swapo's perspective, re-elect him into office. This is another reminder of the poor leadership we have come to witness from Swapo as it relates to GBV and femicide.
While Shikongo remains innocent until proven guilty, the allegations are very serious and are formally in court.
In the same manner that disgraced former ministers Sacky Shanghala and Bernhardt Esau were recalled from parliament while not found guilty, the principle of fairness should dictate the same in Shikongo's case.
But clearly to Swapo, GBV and femicide ring no bells of seriousness. Members who wish to assault women and contest for office the next day on the party ticket are, seemingly, welcome to do so.
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