Lahja Nashuuta
The Namibian Police have confirmed the arrest an 18-year-old in connection with the murder of Cristof Fredericks (30).
Police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi confirmed the arrest to the media yesterday, stating that the murder suspect was arrested in Swakopmund. Another 18-year-old has also been arrested in connection with the same crime.
The suspect is accused of murdering Fredericks last Thursday. Frederick’s mutilated body was found near the Chairman Mao Zendong High School in 7de Laan, Otjomuise in Windhoek.
Frederick’s horrific killing has since drawn the public’s ire, including the Namibian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.
Concerns are rife that members of the LGBTQ+ community are being deliberately targeted due to their sexual
orientation.
Over the past 12 months, at least six members of the LGBTQ+ community have been murdered, according to a media report.
“There’s no guarantee that this won’t happen again until our society becomes educated and informed about Chapter 3 of the Namibian Constitution and LGBTQ+ rights,” said Agapitus Haufiku, the executive director of Out-Right Namibia. Haufiku attributed the killing of LGTBQ+ people to societal stigma and discrimination. “It is not easy to be gay, lesbian, or transgender in a country such as Namibia, where
homosexuality remains taboo and people are full of hatred, and do not respect the other gender’s human rights,” he said.
He added: “Namibia has become dangerous, as we don’t know who is next. Maybe I am next, as when this anti-gay bill was tabled in parliament, no one opposed it. Even the leaders we have voted into power in Cabinet have not opposed it, and currently we are at a crossroads, not knowing who to trust with our votes anymore as all these leaders are wolves in sheep's skin. The promises made during campaigns never materialised.”
Desiree Haman, the director of the Khaibasen Rural Action Foundation, stressed that although there are four women running for the presidential position, there is no light at the end of the tunnel that they will represent their interests. “In the event of these brutal killings, none of them have come out and condemned the killings. When we are silent, it means we agree with these killings, so I believe that as mothers, they need to condemn this killing. If they cannot stand up for us, what will change when one of them is voted into power?” Haman lamented. Sharing similar sentiments was gay activist Wendelinus Hamutenya, who accused political parties and politicians of inciting violence against the LGBTIQ+ population.
“The hate crimewave facing LGBTQ+ people in Namibia has been compounded by the brutal murders of four gay men and two transgender women, just in less than four months. Their deaths continue a grim streak of anti-LGBTQ+ murders in Namibia, and no single political party or leader came out and condemned those brutal murders of our community, he added.
Meanwhile, the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) condemned the brutal killing of Fredricks, attributing the incident to the existing “toothless” legal framework.
LAC director Toni Hancox said: “There are no words to describe the brutal killing of Christof Fredericks, and the viciousness of the attack. The legal terms exist, but they must be internalised to mean something. In this, we are sorely lacking.”
“The facts are frightening. More than 20 women were killed through gender-based violence this year. Children are abandoned in rubbish dumps. Our disregard for the rights of the vulnerable is something all Namibians should be ashamed of,” she said.
LGBTQI+ politics
As the nation heads to yet another decisive poll in November, pressure is mounting on political parties to pronounce themselves on their position on LGBTQI+ issues, including same-sex marriage and their right to have a family.
The LGBTQ+ community further wants to see themselves nominated and appointed to the political parties' key leadership structures and decision-making bodies before the November Presidential and National Assembly elections.
What is more, Haufiku said the system and its policies have failed, and will continue to fail the LGTBQ+ community as there are no clear legal instruments to protect them.
This, he said, is evident in the debates in Parliament during the time when Swapo stalwart Jerry Ekandjo tabled bills in the House that seek to criminalise and outlaw same-sex unions in Namibia.
“I don’t see anything or changes coming from them. The system is still patriarchal, and the women aspiring to lead have not expressed any position on the matter. Some of them who are in parliament actively supported the anti-gay bill; hence, there is no hope that they will change. This has nothing to do with the gender of the president,” Haufiku said.
On his part, Hamutenya said: “The fact that political parties do not consider the LGTBQ+ community in their political programmes or manifestos is an indication that this issue is [not] important [to them], despite the fact that the issue of gay rights was brought to the fore following the Supreme Court ruling. Political parties must be clear in their support of gay rights.”