24.02.2004

A need to clamp down on violence

OVER the last months - as the year 2003 came to a close - it seemed that unlawful acts in our country were on the rise; especially those involving stabbings and rape (which is at the top of the list).

It is now an everyday occurrence that one reads or sees a report

about a fatal stabbing or rape case.

Death caused by stabbing is usually caused by drunken arguments

at certain bars, shebeens or night-clubs.

 

Therefore, these places serve as killing centres in our

country.

 

I would like to call on our law enforcement agencies to take

harsher action.

 

In the first place, stiffer sentences need to be imposed on any

person who stabs or inflicts bodily harm on another person.

 

I also feel that much stiffer sentences need to be imposed on

those who commit rape.

 

One eventually feels that the punishments for killers and

rapists are not stiff enough and that is why these two crimes are

on the increase.

 

In my opinion, night-clubs and other drinking places around the

country should be forced to have armed security guards on their

premises - especially at night.

 

Take, for example, the recent joint operation by the NDF and SFF

in my hometown Otjiwarongo.

 

They patrol these places at night, which ensures a calm

atmosphere all over town - especially over festive periods and

holidays.

 

Thus, with law enforcement personnel in plain sight, violence is

less likely to occur.

 

Iikela Wilbard Namburu

Otjiwarongo

 

Death caused by stabbing is usually caused by drunken arguments at

certain bars, shebeens or night-clubs. Therefore, these places

serve as killing centres in our country. I would like to call on

our law enforcement agencies to take harsher action. In the first

place, stiffer sentences need to be imposed on any person who stabs

or inflicts bodily harm on another person. I also feel that much

stiffer sentences need to be imposed on those who commit rape. One

eventually feels that the punishments for killers and rapists are

not stiff enough and that is why these two crimes are on the

increase. In my opinion, night-clubs and other drinking places

around the country should be forced to have armed security guards

on their premises - especially at night. Take, for example, the

recent joint operation by the NDF and SFF in my hometown

Otjiwarongo. They patrol these places at night, which ensures a

calm atmosphere all over town - especially over festive periods and

holidays. Thus, with law enforcement personnel in plain sight,

violence is less likely to occur. Iikela Wilbard Namburu

Otjiwarongo