2014-04-10Mathias Haufiku "WINDHOEK – A National Assembly MP has proposed that men convicted of gender-based killings or rape be chemically castrated to inhibit their sexual fantasies. Alexiah Manombe-Ncube’s remarks in parliament on Tuesday while making her contribution to the motion on gender-based violence caused a stir among some parliamentarians. “Enough is enough and I therefore take the liberty as a concerned citizen to propose that men who commit gender-based violence be it rape, passion killing, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, be chemically castrated as this will reduce their libido as well as their sexual fantasies,” she said. Chemical castration is the administration of medication designed to reduce libido and sexual activity. Unlike surgical castration, where the testicles or ovaries are removed through an incision in the body, chemical castration does not actually castrate the person, nor is it a form of sterilization. Manombe-Ncube labelled murder convicts as monsters that do not protect the sacred right of others to live and lacking respect for life. “We must equally encourage our girls and sons not to stay for long in cohabitating relationships. They must get married instead of enjoying the privilege of marriage without subscribing to the ideals and values of marriage,” said the parliamentarian. She said cohabitation leads to gender-based killings. Manombe-Ncube said victims of gender-based violence often withdraw cases against the perpetrator. In his contribution to the debate, the Minister of Justice Utoni Nujoma said laws dealing with gender-based violence are in place and they are being enforced. “We passed laws such as the Combating of Rape Act 8 of 2000 and the Combating of Domestic Violence Act of 2003. In my view the laws are there but more social work needs to be done,” he said. He said the justice ministry would relook the laws once they have identified any loopholes. “We will look at the laws and if there are identified gaps we will fill them. As far as we are concerned the court has consistently passed severe sentences on convicted persons,” said the minister of justice. “We must deal with our people and teach them from childhood to respect one another. Do the social work and we will do the law,” he said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said laws cannot work in a vacuum, and she called for supporting mechanisms to implement laws. She suggested a study be done on all convicted of gender-based violence to determine whether there are any similarities in the characteristics or background of sentenced persons. “Death is no longer feared because killers even go as far as dismembering the lifeless bodies – where have we gone wrong?” asked the minister. Communication is breaking down to the extent that people do not know how to communicate and resort to violence, said Nandi-Ndaitwah. By Mathias Haufiku" 2014-04-10Mathias Haufiku
