Social worker Inotila Mwafongwe has warned that domestic violence should no longer be treated as a private family matter, with communities urged to report abuse instead of looking the other way. Mwafongwe, who has 15 years of experience in social work, made the call as more than 290 domestic violence cases were recorded in Windhoek between January and May this year.
The Windhoek City Police has recorded a total of 290 domestic violence cases in Windhoek between January and May this year, but police caution that the number could be higher because many victims remain reluctant to report abuse. Mwafongwe urged people who hear violence taking place behind closed doors to involve the police, saying that they should not assume it is a matter for the family to resolve.
Mwafongwe, speaking on The Catalyst podcast, a Windhoek Observer production, said people sometimes stay out of abusive relationships because they do not want to interfere in a marriage, even when they know that violence is taking place. She stressed that people have a responsibility to act when they are aware of abuse, saying, “You would be the first one to attend that memorial service if you choose to ignore.”
The discussion on domestic violence is featured in the fourth episode of The Catalyst, a Windhoek Observer podcast that has been drawing growing public attention for tackling difficult and thought-provoking issues affecting Namibian society. The podcast has explored subjects ranging from fatherhood and legacy and mental health to the future of artificial intelligence in Namibia.
The warning comes against a wider national GBV problem, with Acting Inspector General Anne-Marie Nainda confirming that 4,965 gender-based violence cases were recorded nationally during the 2025/26 financial year, including 685 in Khomas. Namibia’s Combating of Domestic Violence Act also does not limit the laying of a charge to the victim, allowing a person with an interest in the victim’s wellbeing to lay a charge.
However, legal avenues do not necessarily overcome the social pressure surrounding abusive relationships. Mwafongwe said some victims worry about how their families and communities will react if the abuse becomes known. Social worker Ndeshihafela Loini Shikongo previously noted that victims can be pressured into silence when the person abusing them is known to the family.
Mwafongwe also stressed that domestic violence affects not just women but also men, and called for greater attention to boys and how they are taught to deal with emotions. She urged men to challenge friends who boast about violence against their partners, and for communities to support victims in finding a way out of unsafe relationships.
Key points
- Domestic violence should no longer be treated as a private family matter.
- More than 290 domestic violence cases were recorded in Windhoek between January and May this year.
- Namibia recorded 4,965 gender-based violence cases nationally during the 2025/26 financial year.
