By Risco Lumamezi
A 44- year old Namibian man, who served his 11 years prison sentence after he was convicted by the Windhoek High Court for raping a minor, is fighting justice by telling a story in his book titled “Kangaroo Justice”.
Mr Victor Angula a writer and newspaper editor of Omutumwa (messenger) an indigenous newspaper presenting in Oshiwambo feels that by publishing his book would relieve and heals his angers he suffered in prison for the crime he did not committed.
He says the rape charges against him was just only an instinct ignited by jealousy saying that the people made up a story to tarnish his reputation in the society, as he was the founding editor of The Katutura Times Newspaper in 1998.
“Nineteen years ago when I was 23 years old a certain lady who ironically was a member of our church opened a case against me, saying that I had raped her daughter. At the time her child was seven years old.” Victor remembers.
In his newly 180 pages book he launched in July 2019, which he distributed country wide and at the Windhoek High Court tells his ordeal as follows:
“I was thus arrested, and charged, and eventually tried in the High Court of Namibia by Justice Pio Teek. The State was represented by Advocate Eldorette Harmse. During the trial I conducted my own defence.
The State called three witnesses – the complainant, her mother, and a young lady who was also related to them. The witnesses gave oral evidence telling the court that I had committed the crime. On the other hand I pleaded not guilty, and during the delivery of my defence I told the court that I was in possession of a copy of the medical examination of the complainant by the doctor, and the medical evidence had proven that I had not committed the crime.
After a trial which took only one and half days the court convicted me of having raped a seven-year-old child, and I was sentenced to thirteen years in prison. That was on the 2nd of February of the year 2000.
While in prison I tried my best to have the case come back in court on appeal. But my efforts proved futile as my application for leave to appeal and my petition to the chief justice were all refused with a brief remark that there was no prospect of success on appeal.
After having spent eleven years and four months in prison I was released in the year 2010. With the stigma on my head of having been to prison for the crime of rape of a minor I went back to society and tried to rebuild my life and get back on my feet. It took me quite a while.
So now I have written my story and published it myself. The book titled “Kangaroo Justice” is a result of the pain and anguish I endured over so many years. The story flowed from my heart like a river of tears. Through the pages of this book I am telling the world about my ordeal at the hands of the Namibian justice system.
I have aptly named the book “Kangaroo Justice” because any system of justice which deliberately sends innocent people to prison is nothing else but kangaroo justice.” Says Angula.
The book is available in urban centres of Namibia such as Windhoek at Peter’s Book Stall in Independence Avenue (Cnr of Frans Indongo and Independence), or Oupenda Market in Wanaheda or Radical Books in Windhoek West. It is also available in Oranjemund at South End Service Station, in Gobabis at Gobabis Stationers, in Mariental at One Stop Service Station, in Outjo at the Eyambeko Service Station, in Rundu at Kavango Bookshop, in Katima Mulilo at CKP Stationeries, in Omuthiya at Omuthiya Mini Market, in Ondangwa at Ondangwa Mini Market, in Ongwediva at Ongwediva Mini Market and at Ongwediva Service Station, in Oshakati at the new Okatana Supermarket, in Outapi at Outapi Mini Market, in Eenhana at Eenhana Independence Vision Mini Shop, and in Oshikango at Omutulilwa Bookshop.
Copies can also be ordered from the author directly at victorangula@yahoo.com or by dialing 081 619 1968.
The book is sold at N$250 per copy.
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