OSHAKATI- A 27-year-old woman is currently admitted in the Oshakati Hospital with multiple stab wounds after she was repeatedly raped and attacked by an unknown man.

The incident occurred on Monday evening at Omalyata village in Ohangwena region, at a homestead where she is a domestic worker.

Police have confirmed the incident, but the suspect – who is known to the victim – has not been arrested. 

The victim, who shall remain anonymous to protect her identity, yesterday recounted that she was asleep when the suspect broke into her room. He demanded money and her cellphone.

“He broke the door and entered my room. He was carrying a knife,” she said.

She says the suspect was using a torchlight from his phone and had covered his face.

She said her phone went off due to low battery. 

The victim narrated that she had only started working at the homestead earlier this month and was still new to the village. 

At the time of the incident, she was caring for a disabled pensioner.

“The suspect told me he would kill me if I refused to sleep with him,” she said.

She added that he pointed the knife at her and tried to stab her, but she managed to block the attack, injuring her right hand in the process.

“I fought back because I was trying to escape,” she said. “I screamed for help, but the grandfather I was staying with didn’t hear me.”

Although she managed to flee the room, the suspect followed her and forced her back inside.

“He carried me back into the room, stabbed me in the arm, and raped me. I suffered. I was bleeding from my hand and arm where he stabbed me,” she said.

During the scuffle, she said she was raped for a second time.

The mother of two children said she eventually managed to escape through the window after fighting back, but the suspect followed her and stabbed her in the chest before fleeing.

Despite her injuries, she managed to jump over a wall of her neighbour’s yard and seek help.

“My neighbours woke up and rushed me to the hospital,” she added. “Men have no mercy. Imagine being stabbed and raped multiple times in one night.”

The victim said being woman in Namibia is dangerous and painful due to ongoing gender-based violence.

“What have we done to men? Our children are being raped by fathers, grandfathers, and neighbours,” she said. “Women and girls are not enemies of men. It’s not safe for a woman to sleep alone in Namibia.”

Nurses at the ward confirmed that the victim received both medical treatment and counseling.

Deputy Commissioner Melanie Mburu said police investigations are ongoing in this matter.

She appealed to anyone with information about the suspect to report it to the nearest police station.

In another incident, a 20-year-old disabled woman was reportedly raped multiple times by her neighbor at Onghala village in the Oshikoto region.

The suspect in that case has been arrested. fhamalwa@nepc.com.na