26.04.2004

Preventive Work on Killings

LET me air my view on these shameful, horrible and indeed most devastating barbaric acts in Namibia, killing women, or, killing in general.

This letter is written with special reference to "Prollius van Zyl,

who killed his wife Melinda van Zyl," (The Namibian, April

13,2004).

It is so disheartening to hear inexcusable statements such as "I

regret killing her".

 

Most of the killers, if not all, utter the same words all the

time.

 

It is very painful for family members to hear about such

regrettable experiences and I am sure for all responsible

citizens.

 

The point I am trying to make here is: Such people need to be

jailed but jailing them does not bring the person back.

 

What options are we left with when it comes to this Irreparable

acts? My view is we should attempt to intervene before such

killings happen.

 

I am sure the readers might be asking how this can be done? Yes

it is not an easy job but when well-planned and well-implemented it

might just have an impact in minimizing such killings, which are on

the increase now in our beautiful land.

 

The method I am about to introduce here is called 'Preventative

work'.

 

People are made to consciously think things through before

acting and weighting all the consequence of their actions.

 

I know most, if not all, the killings are done while these

people are drunk but, yes, even drinking can be included in

preventative work.

 

Preventative work needs well-trained people that go out as

outreaches to reach out to people and take them through the

processes of thinking about the pain of a killer and life after

killing etc.

 

The people who have honestly regretted their acts and have

suffered their loss and know the suffering they have caused for

themselves, can be used to reach out to others and share their

horrible experiences.

 

There are also those that think jail is a five-star hotel, so

that will also be a good platform to share their bad experience of

jail.

 

In such away we will have drunkards who are responsible.

 

The motto is "think a thousand times before you act" - there is

no sorry after killing.

 

I hope this article will invite as many peace lovers as possible

to discuss this national concern that we really need to act on.

 

Aids is already orphaning our children - let us act and prevent

deliberate orphaning.

 

Peace lover,

 

Bennita

 

It is so disheartening to hear inexcusable statements such as "I

regret killing her".Most of the killers, if not all, utter the same

words all the time.It is very painful for family members to hear

about such regrettable experiences and I am sure for all

responsible citizens.The point I am trying to make here is: Such

people need to be jailed but jailing them does not bring the person

back.What options are we left with when it comes to this

Irreparable acts? My view is we should attempt to intervene before

such killings happen.I am sure the readers might be asking how this

can be done? Yes it is not an easy job but when well-planned and

well-implemented it might just have an impact in minimizing such

killings, which are on the increase now in our beautiful land.The

method I am about to introduce here is called 'Preventative

work'.People are made to consciously think things through before

acting and weighting all the consequence of their actions.I know

most, if not all, the killings are done while these people are

drunk but, yes, even drinking can be included in preventative

work.Preventative work needs well-trained people that go out as

outreaches to reach out to people and take them through the

processes of thinking about the pain of a killer and life after

killing etc.The people who have honestly regretted their acts and

have suffered their loss and know the suffering they have caused

for themselves, can be used to reach out to others and share their

horrible experiences.There are also those that think jail is a

five-star hotel, so that will also be a good platform to share

their bad experience of jail.In such away we will have drunkards

who are responsible.The motto is "think a thousand times before you

act" - there is no sorry after killing.I hope this article will

invite as many peace lovers as possible to discuss this national

concern that we really need to act on.Aids is already orphaning our

children - let us act and prevent deliberate orphaning.Peace

lover,Bennita