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Grootfontein, 10 December: I am a single mother with two kids. In 2004, I met my ex-boyfriend and I had one daughter with him. He was a working for the National Defence Force.
He used to have other girlfriends and if I raised my concerns, it would become a problem. The abuse started in 2010. He beat me and threatened to kill me. I abandoned the relationship and continued with my life. I met someone else, who I conceived a child with.
My pregnancy didn’t deter him from abusing me until one day I went to the police station to tell the police officers my story and that I wanted out of the relationship. I wanted him out of my life. The Police gave him a warning but this still did not deter him from terrorising. I had to then apply for a protection order against him in 2011.
But, even the protection order didn’t stop him and keep him away from me. One night as I was walking back home, he followed me and attacked me with a knife stabbing me in my chest, penetrating my lungs. I screamed for help and people that heard me came to my rescue and took me to the hospital. The police were called in to quickly gather evidence since my condition was deteriorating fast. I was then transferred to the intensive care unit at Windhoek Central Hospital.
My partner was not afraid of the police or the justice system. The protection orders menat nothing to him. I appeal to lawmakers is to introduce a stiff sentence and punishment to all culprits. To my fellow young sisters out there, I urge you to stand up for your rights and be active in ending the violence against women.
Not her real name*
Rhoda lives in Namibia. This story is part of the “I” Stories series produced by the Gender Links News Service as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender violence, encouraging the view that speaking out can set you free.
📝Read the emotional article by @nokwe_mnomiya, with a personal plea: 🇿🇦Breaking the cycle of violence!https://t.co/6kPcu2Whwm pic.twitter.com/d60tsBqJwx
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) December 17, 2024
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