Ondonga cheaters face up to N$4 500 fine
• Adulterers, lawbreakers’ fines slightly adjusted
If a married Ondonga woman reports her husband for cheating, the 'other woman' will be fined N$4 500 or three cattle, according to newly-effected fines.
Tuyeimo HaidulaOSHAKATI
A man or woman found guilty of having a sexual relationship with a person married to someone else within the Ondonga Traditional Authority’s jurisdiction faces a fine of N$4 500 or three cattle, according to newly-adjusted fines signed into effect recently by Omukwaniilwa Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo.
The new fines, which came into effect in December 2021, target adulterers and breakers of other laws.
Those found committing adultery with a married person will be fined N$1 500 or one head of cattle. For instance, if a married woman reports her husband for cheating, the woman he is accused of cheating with will be fined N$4 500 or three cattle, while the man will have to cough up N$1 500.
Omukwaniilwa Nangolo reminded his subjects of the punitive fines for adulterers and lawbreakers, urging them to toe the line of morality and lawfulness.
He said the fines are reminders to the people under the leadership of the eight Ovawambo traditional authorities - Ondonga, Oukwanyama, Uukwambi, Ongandjera, Uukwaluudhi, Uukologhadhi, Ombalanhu and Ombadja - what their punishments will be should they not follow the rules and order put in place. These fines, he indicated, were amended and adopted at a summit held at Ongwediva in the Oshana Region on 31 July 2014 by the eight traditional authorities. Omukwaniilwa Immanuel Kauluma Elifas ruled Ondonga tribe at the time.
Murder on purpose
Villagers who commit a crime of murder on purpose have to pay the deceased’s family 10 heads of cattle or N$15 000, which includes a punishment of N$13 500 for the relatives of the deceased and N$1 500 for the reconciliation of the families. Meanwhile, those who accidently kill someone will be fined N$7 500 or five cattle and N$ 6 000 or four cattle for the relatives.
The laws further stipulate that if a villager seriously injures someone either on the arm, leg or eye, five head of cattle - or alternatively N$7 500 - should be paid to the victim for each of the listed body parts injured. A tooth injury is fined one head of cattle, or N$1 500. An injury to the head also carries a penalty of N$1 500.
Those accused of impregnating a young woman will pay two head of cattle or N$3 000. In the event that a man impregnates a girl as a result of rape and the girl is under 18 and/or is living with a physical or mental disability, or is a learner or student, the offender is required to pay three heads of cattle or N$4 500.
Those who are unmarried and have consensual sex that results in pregnancy will be fined N$1 500 or one head of cattle.
No body shaming here
Traditional leaders have also decided to impose penalties on those accused of insulting someone’s body parts. Insulting someone’s physical body from head to navel will result in a N$150 penalty while insulting anything from the waist down carries a N$250 penalty.
Deciding not to put a value on theft, those present reached a consensus that each traditional leader will decide on the penalty depending on the value of the stolen goods.
It is further stipulated that those accused of spoiling natural water used for human and animal consumption will pay a fine of N$200.
The fee for the allocation of a mahangu field is one head of cattle or N$600, while land for setting up a shebeen is N$150 and N$50 for traditional brew (otombo).
The rules and fines are amended every five years or whenever the need arises.
– [email protected]
A man or woman found guilty of having a sexual relationship with a person married to someone else within the Ondonga Traditional Authority’s jurisdiction faces a fine of N$4 500 or three cattle, according to newly-adjusted fines signed into effect recently by Omukwaniilwa Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo.
The new fines, which came into effect in December 2021, target adulterers and breakers of other laws.
Those found committing adultery with a married person will be fined N$1 500 or one head of cattle. For instance, if a married woman reports her husband for cheating, the woman he is accused of cheating with will be fined N$4 500 or three cattle, while the man will have to cough up N$1 500.
Omukwaniilwa Nangolo reminded his subjects of the punitive fines for adulterers and lawbreakers, urging them to toe the line of morality and lawfulness.
He said the fines are reminders to the people under the leadership of the eight Ovawambo traditional authorities - Ondonga, Oukwanyama, Uukwambi, Ongandjera, Uukwaluudhi, Uukologhadhi, Ombalanhu and Ombadja - what their punishments will be should they not follow the rules and order put in place. These fines, he indicated, were amended and adopted at a summit held at Ongwediva in the Oshana Region on 31 July 2014 by the eight traditional authorities. Omukwaniilwa Immanuel Kauluma Elifas ruled Ondonga tribe at the time.
Murder on purpose
Villagers who commit a crime of murder on purpose have to pay the deceased’s family 10 heads of cattle or N$15 000, which includes a punishment of N$13 500 for the relatives of the deceased and N$1 500 for the reconciliation of the families. Meanwhile, those who accidently kill someone will be fined N$7 500 or five cattle and N$ 6 000 or four cattle for the relatives.
The laws further stipulate that if a villager seriously injures someone either on the arm, leg or eye, five head of cattle - or alternatively N$7 500 - should be paid to the victim for each of the listed body parts injured. A tooth injury is fined one head of cattle, or N$1 500. An injury to the head also carries a penalty of N$1 500.
Those accused of impregnating a young woman will pay two head of cattle or N$3 000. In the event that a man impregnates a girl as a result of rape and the girl is under 18 and/or is living with a physical or mental disability, or is a learner or student, the offender is required to pay three heads of cattle or N$4 500.
Those who are unmarried and have consensual sex that results in pregnancy will be fined N$1 500 or one head of cattle.
No body shaming here
Traditional leaders have also decided to impose penalties on those accused of insulting someone’s body parts. Insulting someone’s physical body from head to navel will result in a N$150 penalty while insulting anything from the waist down carries a N$250 penalty.
Deciding not to put a value on theft, those present reached a consensus that each traditional leader will decide on the penalty depending on the value of the stolen goods.
It is further stipulated that those accused of spoiling natural water used for human and animal consumption will pay a fine of N$200.
The fee for the allocation of a mahangu field is one head of cattle or N$600, while land for setting up a shebeen is N$150 and N$50 for traditional brew (otombo).
The rules and fines are amended every five years or whenever the need arises.
– [email protected]
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