A 42-year-old man says he has had enough physical abuse from his girlfriend of five years when he escaped death after she allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen last month.
David Suze tells The Namibian that the incident happened in May at his home at Gobabis, after he broke up with his partner.
“Because of my work, I do not work at Gobabis so when I returned from work, I found her moving out of the house.
“I came back around 22h00 hours and I found my girlfriend and her cousin moving out.
I told them if they move out, to do it peacefully, I don’t want any drama and disrespect,” he says.
Suze alleges that an argument broke out involving his girlfriend and her cousin, which escalated into violence.
“My girlfriend just came and stabbed me in the abdomen with a knife,” he says.
He says drove himself to the police station, where he was referred to hospital.
“When I reached the police station, the first thing they asked me was: ‘what did you do to her to stab you?’ I am bleeding, I am in pain, can you assist me?” he recalls asking the, adding that he was disappointed by their response.
Suze says he was later treated at Gobabis State Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
He was then transferred to Katutura Intermediate Hospital, where he remained for about two weeks.
He says the injuries led to complications, including infection and fever.
“I almost died.
I was in pain, I had a fever, I had infections,” he says.
Suze also alleges that after his discharge, tensions between him and the partner continued, including what he describes as ongoing harassment and repeated unwelcome visits to his home.
The five-year relationship, produced a three-year-old child. Suze says the situation between them also affected his relationship with the child.
“I haven’t seen my child for a whole month,” he says.
Suze says he is still recovering physically and emotionally from the relationship, adding that the experience has left him in continuous pain and distress.
He urges other men in similar situations to seek help and avoid retaliation.
“Be patient and know the channels to follow.
Don’t take the law into your own hands.
If someone is disrespectful, go with a witness and report it properly,” he says.
He adds that men should not remain silent because of societal pressure.
“If I was the one who stabbed her, I would be in jail a long time ago,” he says.
Deputy police commissioner in the Omaheke region Chris Kalimbula confirmed the assualt yesterday, which happened last month.
“I can confirm that the case is registered and police investigations are ongoing,” Kalimbula said.
He added that the suspect has not yet been arrested as the case was only reported on Tuesday.
As Namibia observes Men’s Mental Health Month, clinical psychologist Ceaseria Mutau says men who experience domestic abuse often suffer significant psychological consequences, including anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms and emotional withdrawal.
She says societal expectations around masculinity often prevent men from reporting abuse or seeking help.
Progressive Men Empowerment Organisation of Namibia founder Fillemon Amoolongo says cases of domestic violence involving men are often go unreported due to stigma and societal expectations placed on masculinity.
Amoolongo says many men continue to suffer in silence because they fear not being believed or being judged when they come forward to report abuse.
