Choice Ireland

20 Jun 2012 - Story by Helvy Shaanika
New Era Newspaper

OSHAKATI - The National Deputy Secretary for the Rally for Democracy and Progress Youth League (RDPYL), Sam Hamunyela, has called on the government to legalise abortion.

Hamunyela made serious charges while addressing the RDPYL Regional Conference in Ohangwena Region, when he claimed that abortion is taking place in Namibia anyway, and that the majority of those who perform abortion are foreign doctors whose customers are tertiary education students.

“Abortion is a crime in Namibia, but it’s taking place every day especially at institutions of higher learning in this country. Private doctors, especially foreign doctors, carry out illegal abortions because they need money,” he said.

He claimed that some young mothers dump their newborns because either they did not get a chance to abort on time or because they could not afford the high fees mostly charged by private doctors that agree to carry out the illegal practice.

He added that the absence of a law that legalises abortion only contributes to “ill-behaviour in the society, that includes baby dumping and performing unsafe and illegal abortions”.

“Some young ladies dump their babies apparently because they do not know their babies’ fathers, or the father is abusive, or he denied impregnating the lady, or maybe she is shy to be seen breastfeeding,” said Hamunyela.

Hamunyela thus called upon lawmakers to review the laws and abolish the anti-abortion law, maintaining that a law that supports abortion would reduce crime.

“My call is that the government legalises abortion – if not, they must put in place strict measures to control it and make sure that illegal abortions and baby dumping do not exist in this land of the brave,” he said. Hamunyela further condemned the escalating killing of young women at the hands of their so-called lovers or ex-lovers, adding that some of the victims had children with the suspects.

“What is wrong with us men? Maybe we need to go to rehabilitation centres. Some youth are spoiling and tarnishing our images as youth because of the crimes they commit. Who will take over from the Tanganyika group? How will you take over if you are a drunkard, killer, rapist or/and an abusive man towards women and children?” he said.