REHOBOTH, Namibia – The brutal rape, murder, and robbery of 64-year-old Helena Wimmert in Rehoboth’s Block A has shocked the nation of Namibia. The heinous crime took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves through the community. According to Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the victim was raped, murdered, and then robbed in her own home between midnight and 07:40.
The suspect then ransacked the victim’s home for valuables before fleeing into the night. Shortly after the discovery of the victim’s body, a 29-year-old man was arrested in connection with the gruesome murder, confirmed Shikwambi.
Namibia has been grappling with a significant issue of rape and gender-based violence (GBV) in recent years. The country has seen around 4,000 reported cases of rape from 2019 to July 2022, with a noticeable number of these cases involving women and girls. This highlights a persistent and troubling trend in Namibia, with nearly 700 rape cases recorded in 2021 alone.
The Governor of the Erongo Region, Neville Andere, announced plans to establish a regional GBV task team with different stakeholders on board. Despite commendable achievements in human rights and gender equality, Namibia still faces persistent challenges in combatting gender-based violence. In 2019, a total of 711 rape cases were reported, with 353 involving child victims, highlighting the vulnerability of children in these situations.
The high number of rape cases emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained efforts to address these issues at both the societal and governmental levels. These distressing statistics reveal the extent of the crisis and the vulnerability of children in these situations, prompting awareness campaigns and discussions about the need for more effective strategies to combat gender-based violence in Namibia. The Namibian government and various organizations have been actively working to provide support to victims and address the root causes of such violence, but the continued high numbers indicate that much work remains.