The suffering and eventual death of a 13-year-old girl from the Ohangwena region came to the attention of the gender equality minister who expressed anger at the ordeal and the handling of the case.

“I am very angry and disappointed about this issue. It is a very sad story and shocking to the public. Why are men treating us like this? We are not safe anymore in this world,” she said.

These were the reactions of minister Doreen Sioka to the story of a young girl from Olukula village in the Okongo constituency, who died at Okongo hospital after she allegedly endured repeated rape from her biological father.

According to her relatives, the 13-year-old girl died on 27 January 2022, after displaying various symptoms of HIV. She was, however, not tested to prove her cause of death. Prior to her death, the girl’s father allegedly removed her from school and forbid her from going to the hospital. Her biological mother allegedly refused to report the abuse to the police despite her neighbour’s advice.

“The safety of a girl-child should be a mother’s first concern. How can a mother let her husband sleep with his own daughter?” Sioka questioned. 

The minister said both the parents should get arrested because they both have a hand in the alleged atrocities against their daughter. 

“The father does not belong in society, he cannot stay with us. He must go to jail… How can a father desire sexual intercourse with his biological daughter?” she asked.

Sioka suggested that the mother was supposed to report the matter to the police or to the headman.

“As women, we have carried men for nine months in our wombs but at the end of the day we turn out to be their victims. We married men but they are doing evil things to us,” she lamented.

The minister called on the police to do further investigations and arrest the alleged offender.

The police spokesperson for Ohangwena, Kaume Itumba told New Era that police were unable to open a case against the alleged rapist because the incident was only reported to them after the girl was buried. 

“Family should open a case. The victim deserves justice like other people,” he said.

Sioka said both the family and neighbours have failed the child and her life could have been spared if they have reported the rape on time. 

The minister urged the community members to unite and learn how to report all the criminal cases and look out for one another.

Human rights activist Rosa Namises earlier called for the exhumation of the body, maintaining that the victim deserves justice.

“This case is very painful and shocking. The deceased’s body should be exhumed and be taken for post-mortem to determine the real cause of her death, and the father should also be tested,” she said. - fhamalwa@nepc.com.na