By Marx Itamalo |
THE police in Omusati and Ohangwena regions have accused Angolan immigrants who are typically employed as cattle herders and domestic work hands of committing heinous crimes such as rape, murder and theft, before fleeing across the border to their country.
These sentiments were expressed by members of the Namibian police (Nampol) attached to the gender based violence protection units in the two respective regions during telephonic interviews with this publication.
This publication inquired from these officers about the high cases of rape, murder and theft committed by Angolan citizens in the two regions.
Detective sergeant Lukas Kambonde of the Oshikango police’s gender based violence Protection Unit told this publication that the station’s holding cells are full of Angolan citizens, many of them rape and murder suspects.
Others, according to him, are being incarcerated for matters such as stock theft and common assault.
“One thing that we should know is that the tide has turned. Things have changed and danger is lurking behind every bush in our surroundings and even homes. That is why we have the responsibility of protecting our children, especially girls,” Kambonde said.
“The crime of rape is now rife and we have to always keep an eye on our children.”
“We partivularly have to be careful of our neighbours from Angola as they are the suspects in many rape cases we have in the region.”
According to Kambonde, many girls fall victim to rape during school holidays and thus it is imperative for parents to monitor the movements of their children.
“Evertime you go out of your home, ask your children when you come back what bad has happened to them. Ask them if something unpleasant has happened to them in your absence.
“We have discovered that many girls have fallen victim to rape and that the crime only got discovered later because children sometimes are threatened by perpetrators and only when a pregnancy especially came up and then that is when you can hear the child was raped.
“So we have to be extremely careful.”
Although without providing statistics, he indicated that Ohangwena is the region with the highest number of rape, murder and gender based violent cases.
“I think you can agree with me on this. Every time we read in newspapers or listen to the radio we have these cases in Ohangwena.”
Kambonde implored victims of gender based violence and their families to always report matters to the police even if a family member is the suspect.
“Whether the suspect is the father or uncle of the victim, the matter ought to be reported to the police so that the person can face justice,” he stated.
Speaking to Omutumwa by telephone detective sergeant Wilkka Shigwedha of Omusati also echoed her counterpart’s sentiments regarding crime committed by Angolan nationals in Omusati.
“It is the same here. They are raping, killing and even stealing animals. There are even instances where they rape the elderly whom they were supposed to work for in their homes,” Shigwedha noted.
According to her, some suspects after committing their dastardly deeds, simply flee to Angola, never to be seen again. Others though get apprehended by the police and are brought before court.
“Our warning to members of the public is to always be careful and to look after their children,” she said.
“Girls are more vulnerable than boys thus much attention should be given to them especially during school holidays, like the upcoming one.”
In the photo: NamPol’s hands are mostly tied whenever Angolan nationals suspected of having committed crimes in Namibia flee to Angola.
