Otjozondjupa Region, May 2025 The first week of May delivered a heartbreaking blow to the Okahandja community and the entire nation, as the brutal murders of three young girls Ingrid Maasdorp (5), Roswinds Fabian (6), and Beyoncé! Kharuxas (15) shocked Namibia to its core. The tragedy has ignited waves of grief, anger, and an urgent call for decisive action to protect the children of this nation. In response, mass marches and solidarity actions have erupted across the country. Schools in Windhoek stood alongside the grieving families and communities of Okahandja, joining hands with activists and civil society organizations to demand justice and lasting reforms. The streets echoed with powerful chants of “We want justice!” and “Save our children!” a desperate plea for the safety and dignity of Namibia’s young.
The incident has also drawn the attention of Namibia’s newly elected woman president, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, UN agencies, political movements, civil society allies, and grassroots organizations across the country. National leaders and international partners alike have voiced their outrage, offering solidarity and support while calling for immediate action. Many have stressed that this tragedy must not simply provoke temporary outcry, but must give birth to a bold and enforceable legislative framework aimed at ending violence against children and women in Namibia.
Namibia Rural Women’s Assembly (NRWA) joins the nation in mourning and condemning this senseless violence. As an organization representing women in rural communities, we understand all too well the vulnerabilities our children, particularly young girls, face daily. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen child protection systems, improve community safety mechanisms, and hold perpetrators of violence accountable without delay.
In the wake of this tragedy, the Namibia Rural Women’s Assembly released a statement expressing its deep sorrow and outrage, standing in solidarity with the affected families and the Okahandja community. In its statement, NRWA called for immediate justice for the victims, urgent reforms in child protection policies, and stronger community-based safety structures to prevent such atrocities in the future. The Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the safety and dignity of all children, especially in rural areas where vulnerabilities often go unseen.
“The killing of our children must end!” this message, born from the grief-stricken streets of Okahandja, now reverberates across every town and village in Namibia. The NRWA stands firmly with the affected families and communities and commits to amplifying their voices through advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and partnership with like-minded organizations demanding justice.
We call on:
Government authorities to expedite investigations and ensure swift, transparent justice for the victims and their families.
Law enforcement agencies to strengthen child protection units and community policing structures, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Communities, churches, schools, and traditional authorities to unite in creating safe environments for children and reporting any suspicious or harmful activities.
National leaders to prioritize the drafting, adoption, and enforcement of comprehensive legislation to combat violence against children and women, ensuring lasting safety reforms that reach even the most remote villages.
This tragedy has awakened a nation. It must not be in vain. The Namibia Rural Women’s Assembly pledges to continue advocating for safer communities, the protection of children’s rights, and justice for every victim of violence.
Together, we can and must build a Namibia where no child lives in fear.
