Andrew Kathindi
First Lady, Monica Geingos has added her distinguished voice to the abortion debate as the topic prepares to re-enter Parliament on Thursday.
Parliament is set to resume debate the contentious issue after the matter was tabled by Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Esther Muinjangue.
Geingos, responding to a debate on social media said, “Sexual activity, whether by choice or coercion, without the use of effective contraceptives is the “root cause” of unintended pregnancy. The decision to remain pregnant, or not, is about reproductive autonomy. Saying that women seek abortion ‘for fun’ is gaslighting.”
She said the call for the legalization of abortion in the country should not be justified by cases of children being born out of wedlock or single parenthood.
“The essence of the pro-choice argument is personal responsibility, choice and consequence – it has never been about children born out of wedlock, fatherlessness or single parenthood. This is why this discussion needs evidence-based arguments, lest we tie ourselves into knots,” the First Lady said.
Geingos comments comes as a counter petition to the call for the legalization of abortion recently gained momentum and has to date garnered over 13,000 signatures.
Last year, the First Lady condemned the supply of a high volume of illegal abortion pills into the country, stating that the demand was being created by the lack of comprehensive family planning services.
Her remarks support Muijangue, who told Windhoek Observer that it was important to debate the issue, without unbridled emotion and weigh the pros and cons of abortion before making a decision on how to proceed.
“My hope after these discussions is to look into the existing law and amend it, taking into account the Namibian context. Bring in the law, the availability of services for people who find themselves in such situations before they say ‘I am going for a backyard abortion, ensure that there are counseling services available where they can safely go and talk to someone,” the NUDO leader said.
Meanwhile, Advisor to the President on Youth Matters, Daisry Mathias has stated her position against legalizing abortion in all cases Namibia.
“Namibians must reflect on the normalized culture of casual sex, access to information and contraceptives and personal responsibility, choice and consequences. Within clearly defined parameters, abortion is already legal. If it’s about rights, the unborn human fetus has a right to life too. I don’t believe we’ve exhausted all policy options. Abortion is not the solution to all unwanted pregnancies. Big no for me,” the youth advisor said.
Currently, abortion is illegal in Namibia except in cases of conception from rape or incest according to the apartheid –era Abortion and Sterilisation Act of South Africa of (1975), which Namibia inherited at independence in 1990. South Africa removed that old act for their citizens and abortion is legal in the neighboring country. Namibians with means travel there to undergo the procedure.
