ONGWEDIVA - Another horrific case of child abuse has come to light, despite all efforts taken by government and civil society to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for children. 

A 51-year-old man will appear in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court today on charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and child abuse, read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act. 

Oshikoto community affairs officer, inspector Ellen Nehale, said a 15-year-old girl allegedly endured unimaginable abuse at the hands of her uncle after being beaten, chained and left in the bush last Thursday.

The incident happened at Onekaku village, Omulunga.

It is alleged that the suspect beat the victim with his fists and kicked her all over her body, resulting in the victim sustaining swollen eyes and some bruises on her arms and hands. 

Nehale added that the suspect thereafter placed a chain around the victim’s neck, and locked it with a padlock. 

Luckily, one of the community members saw the victim crying in the bush, and alerted the police. The suspect was immediately arrested.

The victim was taken to the Onandjokwe State Hospital for medical attention.

Peter Kambwaye, who is the suspect’s nephew and the victim’s cousin, said he is ashamed of what his uncle has allegedly done.

It is alleged that the victim was assaulted and chained for apparently stealing the suspect’s in-laws’ shoes.

Kambwaye, who is a police officer in Okahao, said that is not all. 

The suspect is allegedly abusing and assaulting everyone at home, including his own mother.

He said everything came to light after the recent incident. 

“I am told this man once attacked one of my nieces with a panga, and it was not reported because they are scared of him. He also allegedly once assaulted one of my cousins who was seriously injured, but people at home were told not to say anything.

“I am only hearing all this now, since they have been threatened. I am disappointed by my relatives for being silenced by the suspect while bad things are happening at home,” stressed Kambwaye.

“I am also informed that the suspect, who receives our grandmother’s pension, beats her if she asks for her pension money. This is news to me, and it’s killing me. My uncle deserves punishment. He must not walk free,” said Kambwaye.

In 2019, a case of child abuse was also opened against a resident of Okambonde in the Oniipa constituency of the Oshikoto region after he allegedly chained a 13-year-old boy around the waist and left leg for nine days.

The boy was allegedly chained for stealing sweets from a tuck shop.

The man, aged 63, was the guardian of the boy at the time.

That incident came to light after a concerned community member alerted the police about the chained child.

- vkaapanda @nepc.com.na