25 children raped in Oshana this year
OKADOOLOPA – The Oshana region has recorded 260 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) between January and May this year.
Head of the GBV sub-division in the region, Chief Inspector Kaarina Shiimi said 25 victims of the 61 rape cases reported involved children.
During the same period last year, the region recorded 258 GBV, and 41 rape cases, of which 20 involved children.
The revelations were made at a communitymeetingwiththepolice at Okadoolopa location in Oshana, where regional commander of Oshana, Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria said 95% of the rape perpetrators are known to their victims.
“They are either siblings, housemates, cattle herders, their uncles or either a neighbour,” he stated.
The meeting aimed at strengthening the relationship betweenthepoliceandcommunity, particularly hearing the public’s concerns and how they can be resolved.
The commander further acknowledged that the police have challenges to respond timely to the public, however, he reiterated that they are committed to serving the public.
“We have challenges, we have a shortage of cars because some of the vehicles are ageing hence sometimes when we receive reports, the community waits for a while because of the limited vehicles,” said Sakaria.
Also of concern in the community of Okadoolopa is stock theft, which this year has seen 89 goats stolen.
Sakaria further encouraged the community to work with the police in order to prevent and fight crime in the region.
He said he will not tolerate the public’s behaviour of fighting the police whilst carrying out their work.
The commissioner also urged the communities to heed the closing times of their bars and shebeens as stipulated in their liquor licences.
He further urged those without liquor licences to acquire them as those found to be operating without liquor licences or operating beyond the prescribed time will be arrested and their stock confiscated.