By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Traditional authorities have appealed for the urgent implementation of the Community Court Act that will accord them powers to effectively deal with perpetrators of gender-based violence in their respective communities.
The call comes in the wake of recurring incidents of murder, beating and rape of mainly children and women.
They acknowledged that a lot of cultural practices in the different communities still condone or tolerate gender-based violence. Justification for violence stems from gender norms and distorted views about the roles and responsibilities of men and women in relationships. This problem has also resulted in many law enforcement officers considering violence by spouses or partners as a family and private affair for the affected families to deal with.
Traditional authority leaders feel they are the custodians of culture and have a great influence on the people under their jurisdiction.
Joseph Asino, who represented the Ondonga Traditional Authority at the recently concluded Gender-Based Violence Conference, said if properly empowered, traditional authorities can influence, educate and preach the gospel against violence.
He added that traditional leaders could also assist the police, implement traditional laws against violence, dispel myths about sex with virgins and fight against the theft of property from widows. “We need to make sure that we work together to make sure those who are guilty are convicted and not set free on technicalities,” he said.
Traditional leaders at the conference strongly appealed for financial assistance from government that will enable them to run workshops, and training and information sharing meetings on gender-based violence in their communities.
“We need a budget to solve problems. All traditional leaders should come together and speak about solutions, and also seek advice from traditional leaders in other countries. Traditional authorities need time till October 2007 to consider what has been said,” said an Aminuis representative at the conference.
They further feel the Ministry of Justice should find ways of advising them on all legal aspects as far as disciplining culprits commiting violence against women and children is concerned.
“Traditional authorities recommend that all organisations and governmental organs at regional and local level combine powers to combat gender-based violence in various communities,” said Chief of the Topnaar Traditional Authority, Seth Kooitjie.
The country has been swept by a wave of bizarre killings and other acts of violence. Vilho Kamanya of the Ondonga Traditional Authority said whatever culture permits was never intended to allow any violation of human rights.
Actually, respect for culture should guarantee respect for other rights including life and liberty, he added.
“Culture is not static, and is useful for the future – we must employ it to fight against atrocities such as gender-based violence that our forefathers never knew,” he emphasised.
Traditional leaders also expressed concern over the lack of decentralisation in matters pertaining to the implementation of policies at community level. They lamented that legislation is formulated in the capital but translations are delayed and no follow-ups on the execution of such legislation are carried out at the regional level.
Traditional doctors were also accused of being other contributors to gender-based violence. Apparently, traditional doctors spread untruths that cause suspicions among community members.
There is no law that gives power to traditional leaders to control traditional healers, thus traditional leaders appealed to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to draft laws that can control traditional healers and their practices.
“They put our lives in danger and if they tell people something and these people end up doing unacceptable or bad things, traditional healers should be held accountable,” said a representative from the Ukwambi Traditional Authority.