SEX CRIMES 'WILL ERODE IMAGE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS'
By Christof Maletsky, Windhoek

July 31, 2003 – (The Namibian - Windhoek) A SENIOR Damara leader says the image of traditional leaders will be damaged if they commit rapes and other violent crimes.

Chief Immanuel /Gaseb, leader of the !Oe#Gan, a tribe within the Damara community, was speaking in the wake of the arrest of Thomas Gabriel.

Gabriel, the headman of Othingo village near Oshakati, is accused of raping a nine-year-old girl.

"We are supposed to defend and work in the interest of the people, not to harm them," Gaseb told The Namibian this week.

Gabriel (59), also known as Kapange, appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate's Court on Monday.

The case was postponed to September 1 and Gabriel remains in custody.

Said Gaseb: "I will propose that we discuss the issue at the next Council of Traditional Leaders meeting in November.

The Council needs to condemn this behaviour by some traditional leaders who think it is normal to act that way".

He claimed there were "a lot sugar daddies" among traditional leaders in various communities.

"I want to call on the communities to expose the sugar daddies. Some use their allowances to spoil minor girls instead of taking care of their wives and family," he said.

Gaseb said traditional leaders were supposed to be the "eye and ear of the Government" and, with more powers being decentralised, they needed to act responsibly.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200307310187.html