Vice hot-spots to be probed

NATIONAL Council Vice Chairperson Margareth Mensah-Williams yesterday tabled a motion requesting an in-depth investigation into the plight of sex workers, street children and other vulnerable persons by the NC’s Standing Committee on Gender, Youth and Information.

On Wednesday, the MP paid a visit to one of Windhoek’s seedier parts – the Ausspannplatz area just off the Central Business District – to meet members of the city’s underworld. “It was hair-raising what they confirmed to me yesterday,” she said, adding that it was the responsibility of the Council to execute their oversight functions to redress injustices in society “as a matter of conscience and obligation”.She requested the committee to investigate areas from where sex workers operate, and to look into cases where bottle stores, bars and shops sold liquor after hours.Mensah-Williams also requested the committee to investigate the extent to which Satanism is practised in Namibia.She said that this could not be ruled out as a motive in the murder of Juanita Mabula, whose decapitated body was found lying next to a road in Windhoek almost two weeks ago.The committee was also asked to investigate whether Namibia had proper legislation to deal with prostitution and street children.Mensah-Williams said current laws only provided for the punishment of prostitutes, while those who abused them were not brought to book.She was supported by Hilma Nikanor, who said such an investigation would help councillors in their planning for their respective regions.Nikanor said the issue of street children was especially worrying, as “most of them go through the pain of not being part of our education system”, in addition to being exposed to a life of crime on the streets.The motion was adopted unanimously, and the Standing Committee is to report on its progress when the Council resumes on Monday.”It was hair-raising what they confirmed to me yesterday,” she said, adding that it was the responsibility of the Council to execute their oversight functions to redress injustices in society “as a matter of conscience and obligation”.She requested the committee to investigate areas from where sex workers operate, and to look into cases where bottle stores, bars and shops sold liquor after hours.Mensah-Williams also requested the committee to investigate the extent to which Satanism is practised in Namibia.She said that this could not be ruled out as a motive in the murder of Juanita Mabula, whose decapitated body was found lying next to a road in Windhoek almost two weeks ago.The committee was also asked to investigate whether Namibia had proper legislation to deal with prostitution and street children.Mensah-Williams said current laws only provided for the punishment of prostitutes, while those who abused them were not brought to book.She was supported by Hilma Nikanor, who said such an investigation would help councillors in their planning for their respective regions.Nikanor said the issue of street children was especially worrying, as “most of them go through the pain of not being part of our education system”, in addition to being exposed to a life of crime on the streets.The motion was adopted unanimously, and the Standing Committee is to report on its progress when the Council resumes on Monday.