Curse of the 'blessers'
There was a fiery debate on teen pregnancy in the National Assembly this week, with MPs rising to list some of the factors that contribute to the never-ending problem.
The sugar daddy syndrome, fancy lifestyles as well as alcohol abuse are some of the factors contributing to an increase in the number of teenage pregnancies, parliamentarians said this week.
Health minister Bernhard Haufiku said it boggles the mind why parents would allow their daughters to come home with fancy gifts knowing that they didn't get it from them.
Haufiku admonished his fellow lawmakers, saying they must make appropriate and straightforward laws to mitigate social evils such as teenage drinking and pregnancies.
He claimed that people in positions of responsibility, such as teachers, impregnate schoolgirls and get away with it.
The minister also took a swipe at the state of parenting in Namibia, saying parents must take responsibility.
“Children are getting smartphones. Your daughter, 15, comes home with an iPhone that you know costs N$16 000. Where the hell did she get it from? But you do not question it,” said Haufiku.
Home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana also contributed to the debate, decrying the high number of teen pregnancies recorded in recent years.
“I was shocked to hear from the regional director of Omusati that 400 schoolgirls have been impregnated by teachers,” said Iivula-Ithana.
She said back in the day, young girls respected elders, but this was not the case anymore.
“Now we [adults] are the ones holding girls on the arm in the bars and buying them drinks and all these kinds of things.”
Haufiku responded by saying lawmakers must come up with laws to tackle the problem.
“It was mentioned that 400 learners fell pregnant in my region [Omusati] in one year…where are these teachers? They are there comfortably teaching. Who is supposed to make the change? It is actually us. Why don't we make the change?” Haufiku said.
Youth minister Jerry Ekandjo then quipped that the country must go back to the “old ways” and take a pregnant girl outside and “tie grass around her and then set her alight”.
Iivula-Ithana responded that there was no way that the nation would kill two people, the mother and unborn baby.
“And the fathers are always left to go scot-free, but these are not the measures [killing] that I am talking about,” she stressed.
When contacted for clarity yesterday Ekandjo said he was simply joking and has been “making a lot of jokes in the past 27 years”.
Namibian Sun last month reported that almost 4 000 teenagers left school because of pregnancy last year.
Fashion statement
Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said she was shocked to see young girls bragging about their pregnancies on social media.
Iivula-Ithana also said she could not understand why “children” must organise baby showers for “children”. “They look at that pregnancy and admire it and say 'next time it is me', because what else prevents them from doing so?” she asked.
Shebeens must go
Haufiku further demanded that lawmakers explain why it is so difficult for them to remove shebeens and cuca-shops from residential areas.
“These things that we are mentioning are things that are happening in our backyards where the kambashus are, where alcohol is sold.
“Why can we not stand up and say no more advertisement on billboards? I need to know from my colleagues here why we cannot do that,” he said.
The motion on teenage pregnancies was introduced by DTA MP Elma Dienda and it has been referred to the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Health minister Bernhard Haufiku said it boggles the mind why parents would allow their daughters to come home with fancy gifts knowing that they didn't get it from them.
Haufiku admonished his fellow lawmakers, saying they must make appropriate and straightforward laws to mitigate social evils such as teenage drinking and pregnancies.
He claimed that people in positions of responsibility, such as teachers, impregnate schoolgirls and get away with it.
The minister also took a swipe at the state of parenting in Namibia, saying parents must take responsibility.
“Children are getting smartphones. Your daughter, 15, comes home with an iPhone that you know costs N$16 000. Where the hell did she get it from? But you do not question it,” said Haufiku.
Home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana also contributed to the debate, decrying the high number of teen pregnancies recorded in recent years.
“I was shocked to hear from the regional director of Omusati that 400 schoolgirls have been impregnated by teachers,” said Iivula-Ithana.
She said back in the day, young girls respected elders, but this was not the case anymore.
“Now we [adults] are the ones holding girls on the arm in the bars and buying them drinks and all these kinds of things.”
Haufiku responded by saying lawmakers must come up with laws to tackle the problem.
“It was mentioned that 400 learners fell pregnant in my region [Omusati] in one year…where are these teachers? They are there comfortably teaching. Who is supposed to make the change? It is actually us. Why don't we make the change?” Haufiku said.
Youth minister Jerry Ekandjo then quipped that the country must go back to the “old ways” and take a pregnant girl outside and “tie grass around her and then set her alight”.
Iivula-Ithana responded that there was no way that the nation would kill two people, the mother and unborn baby.
“And the fathers are always left to go scot-free, but these are not the measures [killing] that I am talking about,” she stressed.
When contacted for clarity yesterday Ekandjo said he was simply joking and has been “making a lot of jokes in the past 27 years”.
Namibian Sun last month reported that almost 4 000 teenagers left school because of pregnancy last year.
Fashion statement
Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said she was shocked to see young girls bragging about their pregnancies on social media.
Iivula-Ithana also said she could not understand why “children” must organise baby showers for “children”. “They look at that pregnancy and admire it and say 'next time it is me', because what else prevents them from doing so?” she asked.
Shebeens must go
Haufiku further demanded that lawmakers explain why it is so difficult for them to remove shebeens and cuca-shops from residential areas.
“These things that we are mentioning are things that are happening in our backyards where the kambashus are, where alcohol is sold.
“Why can we not stand up and say no more advertisement on billboards? I need to know from my colleagues here why we cannot do that,” he said.
The motion on teenage pregnancies was introduced by DTA MP Elma Dienda and it has been referred to the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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