Minister of environment, Pohamba Shifeta, has said he will “defend” himself against gay people and those who accused him of being a member of that community.
He has also called on likeminded Namibians to beat up members of the LGBTQ+ community if they provoke them.
Responding to allegations of homosexuality and finding his name included in a supposed “list of gay people,” Shifeta defended himself by suggesting that talk of “beating gays with knobkieries” was necessitated by the accusations and that he was merely defending himself and safeguarding his dignity.
In widely-circulated audio recordings, he criticised the lack of action taken against those tarnishing his name and even threatened to personally intervene if necessary. He denied any association with homosexuality.
Approached for a comment, Shifeta confirmed that it was indeed him in the audio recordings and expressed his anger over the attempts to tarnish his “reputation and dignity”.
Without mincing his words, the minister said “I don’t care about gays, and I am not speaking for gay people,”
Frustrated by the lack of action from law enforcement, he vowed to take matters into his own hands if necessary, questioning why individuals involved in petty crimes are swiftly arrested while those who “insert their penises in other men’s anuses” remain untouched.
“Sodomy remains a crime,” he said.
With a defiant tone, Shifeta announced that he would be carrying a knobkierie as a symbolic gesture of his readiness to defend his dignity.
He also warned that anyone, including gay individuals and those spreading false rumours, crossing his path would “see him”.
He went as far as encouraging other men who felt threatened by gay people to carry similar weapons and beat them.
In a telephonic interview with New Era, the furious Shifeta expressed his exasperation with the continued assault on his dignity and the tendency of the accusers to play the victim when he tries to defend himself.
“How can someone just wake up and make such claims that I am part of them?” he asked.
He insisted that he was not inciting violence but rather advocating for him and other men to take action when accused of being gay.
Shifeta also reiterated that sodomy and “anal sexual intercourse” are crimes under Namibian law.
He then criticised the lack of seriousness by the authorities in addressing “these offenses” and called for stronger protection for victims of character defamation.
The minister argued that the justice system should prioritise the rights of victims over those of the perpetrators, claiming that the situation has been reversed.
“They persistently defame my character, and yet, when I stand up for myself, they turn around and portray themselves as victims. They have chosen the wrong person to provoke, and I am simply asserting my right to defend myself and protect my dignity. If society or those in positions of authority fail to do so, then I will take matters into my own hands,” he said.
Shifeta emphasised that being a member of parliament does not grant others the freedom to say whatever they please while expecting him to remain silent.
While he confirmed having previously pursued legal action, he expressed his reluctance to institute civil litigation, deeming it a waste of both time and money.
He urged authorities to take defamation cases seriously and protect individuals from baseless accusations that threaten their reputations.
Shifeta’s controversial remarks adds fuel to the already blazing fire of divided opinions on homosexuality within the nation.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of recognising same-sex marriages of Namibians and their foreign spouses, solemnised in other countries. This landmark ruling has sparked intense debate among the Christian community, LGBTQI+ activists and politicians alike.
Notably, it led to a protest earlier this month, further highlighting the deep divisions.
Approached for a comment, LGBTQI+ activist and member of Equal Rights Namibia, Venecia Shanjenka expressed disappointment with Shifeta’s remarks saying leaders are using their authority to “incite violence”.
“Who is supposed to protect the rights of LGBTQI+ members? It is quite scary and therefore we are calling on the office of the inspector general to adapt a policy that protects the community against hate speech. We cannot go on like this and we are not a violent community. It’s unfortunate that certain individuals have angered him but we condemn his reaction towards that,” noted Shanjenka also calling on the office of ombudsman to take action.
Attempts to get comment from the ombudsman proved futile.