DTA vice-president Kazeongere Tjeundo says he will propose a wife-swapping law in Namibia after the upcoming general election in November.
He said this while defending the practice of ‘okujepisa omukazendu’ or ‘offering a wife to a guest’ among the nomadic Ovahimba and Ovazemba tribes.
However, Tjeundo comments this week, which has already been reported in the South African media, has drawn sharp reactions from the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) and the United Nations Development Programme office in Namibia, among others.
These organisations say the practice puts women at risk of HIV infection and that wives only do it because they do not want to defy their husbands.
However, the Ovahimba and Ovazemba tribes contend their age-old custom strengthens friendships and prevents promiscuity.
"It's a culture that gives us unity and friendship," said Tjeundo this week.
"It's up to you to choose [among] your mates who you like the most ... to allow him to sleep with your wife," said Tjeundo, who is Ovahimba
Concerned that HIV/Aids could be used as an excuse to stop the ancient tradition, he and others are sual organisation called Woman Solidarity Namibia.
'Why should we change it?'
The LAC has challenged continued existence of this kind of wife-swapping in a country where 18.2% of the 2.1 million residents have HIV, according to national statistics.
"It's a practice that puts women at health risk," said Amon Ngavetene, who is in charge of LAC's Aids project. He contends that most women are opposed to the practice and would want it abolished.
But 40-year-old Kambapira Mutumbo is completely comfortable with the custom and has been asked to sleep with her husband's friends.
"I did it this year," she said, and "I have no problem with the arrangement".
"It's good because it’s part of our culture, why should we change it?" she added.
Cloudina Venaani, programme analyst with the United Nations Development Programme office in Namibia, is adamant that women only tolerate it because they are afraid of defying their husbands.
Traditionalists, however, insist the custom does not violate the rights of women, noting that women are also free to choose partners for their husbands - even if this rarely happens in practice.
Chief of the Otjikaoko Traditional Authority in the Kunene Region Uziruapi Tjavara said he wants the custom to continue, but paired with education on HIV.
Details, however, are still vague.
"We just need to research more on how the practice can be regulated," said Tjeundo.
He said this while defending the practice of ‘okujepisa omukazendu’ or ‘offering a wife to a guest’ among the nomadic Ovahimba and Ovazemba tribes.
However, Tjeundo comments this week, which has already been reported in the South African media, has drawn sharp reactions from the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) and the United Nations Development Programme office in Namibia, among others.
These organisations say the practice puts women at risk of HIV infection and that wives only do it because they do not want to defy their husbands.
However, the Ovahimba and Ovazemba tribes contend their age-old custom strengthens friendships and prevents promiscuity.
"It's a culture that gives us unity and friendship," said Tjeundo this week.
"It's up to you to choose [among] your mates who you like the most ... to allow him to sleep with your wife," said Tjeundo, who is Ovahimba
Concerned that HIV/Aids could be used as an excuse to stop the ancient tradition, he and others are sual organisation called Woman Solidarity Namibia.
'Why should we change it?'
The LAC has challenged continued existence of this kind of wife-swapping in a country where 18.2% of the 2.1 million residents have HIV, according to national statistics.
"It's a practice that puts women at health risk," said Amon Ngavetene, who is in charge of LAC's Aids project. He contends that most women are opposed to the practice and would want it abolished.
But 40-year-old Kambapira Mutumbo is completely comfortable with the custom and has been asked to sleep with her husband's friends.
"I did it this year," she said, and "I have no problem with the arrangement".
"It's good because it’s part of our culture, why should we change it?" she added.
Cloudina Venaani, programme analyst with the United Nations Development Programme office in Namibia, is adamant that women only tolerate it because they are afraid of defying their husbands.
Traditionalists, however, insist the custom does not violate the rights of women, noting that women are also free to choose partners for their husbands - even if this rarely happens in practice.
Chief of the Otjikaoko Traditional Authority in the Kunene Region Uziruapi Tjavara said he wants the custom to continue, but paired with education on HIV.
Details, however, are still vague.
"We just need to research more on how the practice can be regulated," said Tjeundo.
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