Stop mocking rape victims on social media – Imalwa urges public

Prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has urged the public to refrain from making social media posts mocking rape victims.

She says such comments are traumatising the victims.

This comes after the alleged victim in the high-profile rape case involving former agriculture minister Mac Hengari collapsed while preparing to testify in Imalwa’s office last month.

“She was taken to the hospital and anyone can faint if they are not well. She is well and she has no mental issues,” Imalwa says.

Imalwa denies allegations that the state had declared the alleged victim mentally unstable.

She clarifies that no such declaration has been made and cautions against the spread of misinformation that could undermine the alleged victim’s credibility and well-being.

“Namibians should stop lying about this matter. Where are we going as a country with these lies?” she asks.

Imalwa urges the public to respect the alleged victim’s privacy, adding that the circulation of personal images and speculative narratives not only violates the individual’s rights but also exacerbates her emotional distress.

“People are traumatising the girl on social media, posting pictures of her and her baby which is very wrong because she never said she was impregnated by Hengari. These reports are damaging her and destroying her and her rights. People are destroying people’s identities and they should wait until investigations into the Hengari case are done.

“Even the media should be sympathetic with the victim. She is already traumatised . . . let us try to protect the rights of the victim,” she says.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah dismissed Hengari from his ministerial position and the National Assembly in April following accusations of raping the alleged victim when she was a minor.

He was then arrested in April for attempting to bribe the alleged victim with N$230 000 to withdraw her complaint and was denied bail.

However, Imalwa emphasises the importance of upholding the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’.

She cautions against premature judgements and the dissemination of unverified information, particularly on social media platforms.

“Allegations are just allegations and it does not make the accused guilty. . . Namibians take out things and make them big for nothing. They say 90% of Namibians are Christians, but they are not acting so,” she says.

She adds that the only case she knows of is that of bribery.

“The case that is in court is that of bribery. The allegations of the rape case has not yet reached my office because the police are still investigating the allegations.”

Hengari’s arrest came after a sting operation near a restaurant at Eros after reportedly being lured to the location by a relative of the alleged victim.

A police report notes that Hengari is also faced with allegations of defeating the course of justice, assault by threat, crimen injuria, abduction, administering substances in contravention of the Immoral Practices Act, pointing a firearm, supplying liquor to a minor, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

He also faces multiple allegations, including rape, which is still under police investigation.

He is scheduled to appear in court today.

City Police spokesperson Marcelline Murapo says social media comments and posts often worsen the trauma of gender-based violence (GBV) victims, and in some cases, even lead to some taking their own lives.

“Social media comments have a serious impact on victims. People don’t realise that even small remarks can deeply hurt those affected. These comments often discourage victims from reporting their cases because they fear being judged or ridiculed online,” she says.

“These victims are already going through a lot, and such comments can push them to the edge. . . We all need to support victims, not destroy them. Some cannot cope with the stress or hurtful remarks. Let’s be mindful and responsible with what we say on social media,” Murapo adds.

She says the police help victims and refer them for psychological support.

“From the police’s side, we see that GBV victims are under immense pressure. We refer them for psychological help, but we also speak to them directly and encourage their neighbours or people close to them to report any abuse.

“Sometimes victims are too afraid to report, and some worry that speaking out might take away their only source of income. That’s why we rely on the community to help us by reporting these cases to the police,” she says.

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