REHOBOTH, Namibia – The brutal rape, murder, and robbery of 64-year-old Helena Wimmert in Rehoboth has sent shockwaves through Namibia. The horrific crime took place at the victim’s home in Rehoboth’s Block A during the early hours of Tuesday morning, between midnight and 07:40, according to Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, head of the Namibian Police’s Public Relations Division.
Following the discovery of the victim’s body in her home, a 29-year-old man was arrested in connection with the gruesome murder. This incident has brought the ongoing issue of rape and gender-based violence (GBV) in Namibia to the forefront once again. In recent years, there have been around 4,000 reported cases of rape in the country, with a significant number of them involving women and girls.
The persistently high number of rape cases has underscored the urgent need for more effective strategies to combat this issue. Various awareness campaigns and discussions have taken place to address the root causes of such violence. The Namibian government, along with different stakeholders, has been working to provide support to victims and tackle the societal and governmental challenges surrounding GBV.
In response to the disturbing statistics, the Governor of the Erongo Region, Neville Andere, announced plans to establish a regional GBV task team with the aim of addressing the prevalence of physical violence against Namibian women. Despite commendable achievements in human rights and gender equality, the persistence of these challenges indicates the need for comprehensive and sustained efforts at both the societal and governmental levels.
The distressing reality of the situation is further highlighted by the fact that in 2019 alone, 711 rape cases were reported, with 353 involving child victims. These statistics underscore the ongoing urgency for a more comprehensive and sustained strategy to address the root causes of gender-based violence in Namibia.