Crime in Namibia

Namibia is situated in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has some of the highest crime rates in the world. This situation is caused by poverty, a low level of development, and enormous social and economic disadvantages.[1]

Crimes reported in Namibia amounted to 96,200 in the financial year March 2008–February 2009, in 2009/10 to 98,671, and in 2010/11 to 90,675. More than two fifths of all reported crimes occur in the capital Windhoek, where the majority of reported crimes are burglaries, robberies, and assaults.[2]

Organised crime across all of Southern Africa probably only developed in the 1980s. While the thousands of kilometers of unsecured borders are often believed to be responsible for enabling cross-border crime, "research has shown that criminals prefer legal border points".[3] Organised crime in Namibia is active mainly in the transporting of drugs and the hiring of drug mules, as well in laundering of money through investments in real estate and luxury assets.[3]

Types of crime

Violence

Namibia has a high rate of domestic violence, particularly against women and children. Rape and murder cases are frequent. The number of rape cases reported annually was estimated to be between 700 and 1,600 in 2010, and domestic violence is primarily done by men against women.[4][5] A report on the period from 2012 to 2015 counted roughly 40,000 assault cases, 2 839 rape cases, 1 138 attempted murders and 734 murders while pointing out that a large number of cases remain unreported.[6]

There are a number of non-profit organisations to counter gender-based violence but the problem is perceived to become worse. Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba suggested in 2014 that 6 March should become a national prayer day,[7] a measure that has received criticism for undermining the secular organisation of the state.[8]

Infanticide

There are a number of cases every year where newborn babies are dumped in river beds, in rubbish-bins and in dams. According to the report published by the parliamentary standing committee on human resources, social and community development, from 2003 to 2007, baby dumping rose from 6 to 23 cases per year, a 283 percent rise. Most of these cases of concealment of birth go unreported; Windhoek Water Works alone reported in 2008 that they discover 13 dead newborns in their waste water system per month.[9]

Money laundering

Money laundering is legislated by the Financial Intelligence Act and controlled by the Financial Intelligence Centre. The Centre reported a significant increase in suspicious transactions in 2011,[10] but already in 2003 the United Nations described the situation as "critical".[1]

Serial killings

Namibia has experienced at least one serial killings event when between 2005 and 2007 the B1 Butcher killed and dismembered five women and deposited body parts along Namibia's National Road B1. The identity of the B1 Butcher was never conclusively determined.[11]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 van Dijk, Jan; Ruggiero, Vincenco, eds. (December 2003), Forum on Crime and Society (PDF), 1, 2, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, pp. 144–150
  2. ↑ "Crime: Is it really that bad?". Insight Namibia. August 2012. p. 27.
  3. 1 2 Hübschle, Annette (August 2012). "Not just the usual suspects". Insight Namibia. pp. 28–29.
  4. ↑ Coomer, Rachel (13 January 2010). "The Status of Gender-based violence in Namibia". The Namibian.
  5. ↑ Odendaal, Willem. "The Men Against Violence Against Women Movement in Namibia" (PDF). Legal Assistance Centre. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  6. ↑ Harman, Adam (14 March 2016). "50 000 gender crimes reported in three years". The Namibian.
  7. ↑ Kangootui, Nomhle; Immanuel, Shinovene (24 February 2014). "Nation of sick men". The Namibian.
  8. ↑ "God Save us from Who?". The Namibian. 24 February 2014.
  9. ↑ Kisting, Denver (11 March 2010). "Baby dumping a growing social problem in Namibia". The Namibian.
  10. ↑ Nyaungwa, Nyasha Francis (5 April 2012). "Money laundering on the increase?". Namibia Economist.
  11. ↑ Menges, Werner (29 April 2008). "B-1 Butcher: DNA evidence in spotlight". The Namibian.

Further reading

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