Paulina Ndalikokule
OMUNGWELUME – An 80-year-old woman who allegedly insulted and verbally abused her sister-in-law and her children for more than 20 years, was quick to plead guilty and not go on trial.
She also did not oppose paying N$300 on Friday in Omungwelume Magistrate’s Court in front of magistrate Toini Shilongo.
Shilongo issued a fine of N$300 to Linda Namhadi to pay on or before 27 July 2024 at the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court.
Linda was facing charges of defamation of character and verbal abuse with insults, a case opened against her by her niece, Martha Namhadi.
This allegedly follows an incident that happened in January this year when Linda allegedly led goats into the mahangu field of Martha’s mother, Tulikeni Weyulu, the widow of Linda’s late brother.
When the children tried to take the goats out of the field, Linda threw sticks at them.
Martha said altercations started between her and Linda when she enquired what the commotion was about in the field.
“She proceeded to insult my mother’s private parts, and identify her as a witch,” she said.
Martha alleges that her mother and her siblings have silently suffered threats, verbal abuse and accusations from Linda for 24 years, following the deaths of their father and husband in 2020.
“For weeks, we lived under a tree after we were chased out of our father’s home. We then erected a zinc structure at an open area near my late father’s home, where we stay until today,” she said.
She said she finally opened a case against her aunt to break the norm practised where widows have been harassed and stripped of their belongings and properties for decades by their in-laws after the deaths of their husbands.
“I am not doing this to specifically punish her. In fact, I forgive her, but I want the message to go out there so that such practices that have been going on for decades and are still ongoing in the villages, with nobody doing anything to protect the vulnerable widows and children are stopped,” she said.
Martha said she waited to get a job after that traumatic experience to go to a psychologist, while her mother and one brother got their emotional support from the church. She said, however, that for many widows and children, there is no psychological help.
“This cultural practice is still prevalent in the villages, and people think it’s acceptable because nobody is standing up against it. And because nobody is holding these perpetrators accountable, they think it’s the right thing to do. As a victim who also witnessed similar abuse when my mother was harassed and abused, I am here to say that enough is enough. Widows can no longer go through this abuse. I am here to be a voice for the voiceless, vulnerable widows and children,” she said.
She urged lawmakers, specifically the justice and gender equality ministries, to educate people about the abuse that children and widows are going through after their spouses have passed away.
“We need education to change the minds of our people, especially those in the villages, who must be educated that such practices are very wrong,” she said.
In an interview with New Era, Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Child Welfare spokesperson Lukas Haufiku said although the ministry has interventions to advocate against abuse, many people do not show up for such engagements.
“We cannot go from house to house in the whole country and educate people. But we do community engagements to educate people, even in rural areas, about gender-based violence, but many people do not show up, especially men,” he said.
Haufiku said although there are not enough social workers in the country, they prioritise cases, and provide urgent social workers to victims of abuse.
“Anyone can report the case anonymously, and we will investigate. People should just speak out so they can be helped,” he said.