'Roll up our sleeves' to fight GBV and crime, first gentleman urges

Lüderitz has emerged as the crime hotspot of the ǁKharas region, recording the highest number of housebreaking and theft cases, while ranking second for robbery and third for gender-based violence (GBV), officials say.

Namibia’s First Gentleman, retired Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, shared the figures on Friday during International Women’s Day commemorations in Lüderitz. “This region requires focused attention, honest dialogue and decisive intervention. Behind every crime statistic is a mother who cries, a child who is traumatised and a family that is broken," he said.

The event also served as a community engagement addressing social challenges such as GBV and drug abuse. Ndaitwah expressed concern over the high number of reported crimes while noting a measurable decline in some regional crime statistics. “According to the crime report, Lüderitz recorded the highest number of housebreaking and theft cases in the ǁKharas region, accounting for 30% of the total reported cases," Ndaitwah said. "In robbery cases, the town ranks second, accounting for 23% of the regional total. In terms of GBV, Lüderitz ranks third, accounting for 33% of cases reported in the region.”

He urged the community to step forward and support law enforcement in tackling crime. “Statistics may decline, but broken homes do not automatically repair themselves," Ndaitwah warned.

"We must ask ourselves why this is the case and what we can do collectively to change it. We must all roll up our sleeves and work together to combat gender-based violence, crime and other social challenges affecting our community,” he stressed.

Unite against crime - Ndaitwah urged Namibians not to remain passive or turn a blind eye to the country’s social challenges, emphasising that although crime has fallen by 22.9%, the figures remain unacceptably high.

He reminded residents that their work as crime fighters is far from over, calling on the Lüderitz Town Council, police, neighbourhood watch groups and community leaders to work together urgently to identify, secure and monitor areas that have become drug hotspots in the harbour town. “We must close spaces that destroy the future of our youth. A percentage drop in crime statistics does not heal trauma, restore trust or rebuild dignity," he said. "It simply tells us that progress has begun and that progress must now be protected, strengthened and accelerated. The decline we see today must not make us comfortable. Instead, it must motivate us to push even harder to restore safety, dignity and trust in our communities."

Women rise - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s husband also highlighted Namibia’s progress on gender equality.

“Today, 57% of our Cabinet members are women, and the highest offices of our land are also held by women," he said. He added that women’s representation is not just about gender equality. "These appointments were made based on merit, ability and the capacity to deliver effective services, and so far they are doing exceptionally well."

Teach our boys - Ndaitwah announced that his office, together with various partners, will soon launch targeted initiatives to strengthen support for boys in schools and communities.

“If we want long-term solutions, we must invest in prevention," he explained. “To prevent future gender-based violence, we must mentor our boys through sports programmes, school initiatives, faith-based activities and positive male role models. We must teach them that violence is never strength and that true manhood is defined by protection, discipline and self-control."