OSHIVELO – The councillor for Guinas Constituency in Oshikoto Region, Isak Gomachab, spent over six hours behind bars this week after being arrested on charges of assaulting a minor at a farm near Tsintaabis in the Tsumeb district.
“The child came to Tsumeb from the councillor’s farm … this is when the other children he was playing with discovered the battered child and reported the matter to a female adult family member who in turn informed the police,” the police deputy commissioner Naomi Katjiua told New Era yesterday.
The councillor was arrested on Monday morning and a case of intent to cause grievous bodily harm was opened under the Domestic Violence Act. Gomachab appeared in the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court in the afternoon of the same day and the case was postponed for further investigations. He was released on bail of N$1 500 with the condition that he does not contact the child or any witnesses in the case.
“We sought the help of a social worker [from the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare] because the child is still traumatised by the beating. This is not the correct way to handle problems as this breeds violence. In the end the abused will become an abuser himself. There are alternative modes of dealing with problems, one should never resort to violence. As a leader Gomachab has more access to help facilities,” said a disappointed Katjiua.
“As leaders we do not have all the answers, we need to practise the laws that we preach, asking for help does not make you a stupid or weaker leader,” added the police commissioner. When contacted for comment Gomachab declined to comment, saying: “Just write what you want, I do not want to comment.”
By John Travolter Matali