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,BennitaIt 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