The Oshikoto region has recorded 305 gender-based violence (GBV) cases between January and September this year, with 201 suspects arrested.

The Namibian Police Force deputy commissioner for the region Peter Nakadhilu on Wednesday said GBV victims state some of the contributing factors include gender inequality or disparities in power relations between men and women.

He added that such cases have a harmful impact on the lives of victims or survivors, and thus urged members of the public, especially those affected by GBV, to report cases of abuse in their domestic relationships to the police for intervention.

“Survivors may consult hospitals or social workers for counselling,” Nakadhilu advised.

He also encouraged men to report any domestic violence they are experiencing in their relationships, as men need to open up like women and share their problems.

The Omuthiya District Hospital’s senior social worker, Esther Hafungo, said they attend to three GBV cases on average on a daily basis.

A lot of these cases are from rural areas and go unreported, with some people concealing the incidents out of fear of losing their partners.

“Some people are covering their pain. You will find a person with a broken wrist giving a funny explanation,” Hafungo noted. - Nampa