Namibia: Marriage, rape and rights: Namibia’s culture clash over consent – National

A man’s arrest for allegedly raping his wife in the Zambezi region last week has sparked renewed debate over marital consent in Namibia, exposing a deep rift between traditional beliefs and legal protections for women.

While some traditional leaders and religious figures insist there is no such thing as rape within marriage – citing cultural norms and religious obligations – others argue that forcing sex on a partner without consent remains a violation, regardless of the…