Sioka avoids resignation demands

Sioka avoids resignation demands KENYA KAMBOWE



WINDHOEK

Gender equality minister Doreen Sioka says she is avoiding discussing calls by sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) protesters for her to resign, saying her take on the matter would ‘open Pandora’s box’.

Renewing their calls for the minister to step down, supposedly over her fumbling of gender-based violence in the country, protesters last Friday attempted to organise what they called a ‘farewell braai’ for Sioka.

The minister has kept mum on calls for her to step down, and yesterday refused to discuss the matter when contacted by Namibian Sun.

“That issue, I don’t want to dwell into it please, please. I am avoiding it. Listen here, I don’t want to open a Pandora box after we had reconciled [with protesters]. Now you want to bring something out again,” Sioka said.

‘We want her gone’

Organisers of the protests yesterday denied having reconciled with the embattled minister, reiterating that they want her gone.

Their continuous calls for the minister to step down remain even after meeting with President Hage Geingob last month over SGBV, which is primarily headlined by the killing of women by their male partners.

Protesters charge that Sioka is incapable of leading the fight against SGBV, saying her public pronouncements on the subject have shown her ineptitude.

“Our demand for her resignation remains, but it is important that you make the distinction between the minister of gender and the ministry of gender,” a spokesperson said yesterday.

“We are still working with the ministry of gender the same way we are working with government institutions and agencies to hold them accountable.”

Action plan

The protestors yesterday also revealed that by the end of this week, a document pointing out the way forward regarding the fight against SGBV will be released.

“The document has practicable action points with dates and timelines, and individuals and offices to hold accountable. That is where we currently are, but we are still calling for her resignation because we don’t think she is representing us well.”

Public reaction

On 8 October, young people gathered at various spots in Windhoek to protest the spike in SGBV crimes over the last few months.

This has raised a high level of concern among young Namibians, especially the most affected party, the girl child.

Emotions have been running high, with protesters shouting “ons is moeg!” [we are tired] after the remains of Shannon Wasserfall, who went missing in April, were discovered by the police on 6 October.

kenya@namibiansun.com