By Gerson Hailemo
OUTAPI
The Omusati Region, which used to have one of the highest figures for rape cases in the country, has registered a decline in rape incidents.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Lineekela Shikongo, a campaign spearheaded by the Women and Child Protection Unit in the region played a major part in achieving this decrease.
Most rape cases take place during winter and spring because at that particular time, most parents visit entertainment places and Cuca shops, leaving the young people at home alone and vulnerable to rapists, especially girls.
The situation is different during the rainy season, when most parents stay at home and are busy ploughing and tilling the land to produce food.
The Women and Child Protection Unit has embarked on a series of meetings with community leaders, distributed information and offered advice on strategies for prevention of rape, he said.
There are however, two rape cases at present where fathers allegedly raped their own daughters, according to reliable information from a source within the unit.
One of the rapists, who allegedly made his daughter pregnant, was recently sentenced to 12 years in jail at Oshakati.
The second suspect appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court, with his case later transferred to the Windhoek High Court.
According to the source, the Windhoek High Court has postponed the case to early 2008.