A 32-year-old visually impaired man began a 50-kilometre walk this Wednesday from Iihwali Village to the Oshana Regional Council Office to deliver his petition letter to Governor Hofni Iipinge.

Petrus Kleopas, a resident of Omuthiya Village, embarked on the epic walk to elevate awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and the recent rise in child murders.

Kleopas, a founder of an organisation for the visually impaired, as well as a motivational speaker and advocate for disability rights, said his walk from Iihwali Village to Oshakati is his second advocacy endeavour.

Kleopas stated that he chose the route from Iihwali in the Oshikoto Region to the Oshana Region, as both areas have recently reported incidents of GBV.

"In the Oshikoto Region, we lost two children who were killed by their father, and in Oshana, there was one child who was killed by the mother at 4 months. A child suffered sexual assault at the hands of his father. This sort of abuse is part of gender-based violence. I was trying to collaborate with two regions, specifically the Omusati and Ohangwena regions, to develop awareness programmes for children under the age of 17."

Despite being visually impaired, Kleopas did not encounter difficulties during his travels, praising the police for their escort and ensuring his safety. 

He emphasised that his visual impairment does not prevent him from addressing issues that affect the nation.

"This also serves as a motivation for my fellow people living with disabilities to at least come out there and fight gender-based violence in the country."

In addition to GBV walks, Kleopas has visited 320 schools to raise awareness about reducing teenage pregnancy, dealing with substance abuse, constitutional rights, and fostering responsible citizenship.

He further expressed his intentions to broaden his advocacy efforts to the Omusati and Ohangwena regions; however, the absence of financial support poses an obstacle.