A continued search
Advocating for the missing
Rosalia Hipondoka runs the Missing Persons Unit (MPU), which creates awareness of missing people in and around Namibia.
Equipped with a degree in media arts and technology studies from the College of the Arts and a social media presence on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Rosalia Hipondoka reports on missing people.
She personally involves herself in the cases she reports on, which include speaking to the missing person’s next of kin and liaising with the Namibian police.
The Missing Persons Unit (MPU) was founded in May 2020 after Hipondoka was added to a WhatsApp group about the case of Shannon Wasserfall.
After the initial advocacy for Wasserfall, Hipondoka realised that there were more missing persons who needed help.
Tough job
If the families consent, MPU operations typically include a personal message on social media from the missing person's family members.
Before posting, Hipondoka waits 24 hours after the person has gone missing to publish the post on social media and then liaises with the authorities.
"I encourage family members to open a missing person’s case, and I am also affiliated with the police now," she said.
The process of advocating for missing people involves emotional strength, as described by a close friend, Wetu Amwaalwa, who has closely worked with Hipondoka.
Amwaalwa describes Hipondoka as committed, strong-willed, and resilient – important traits for the work she deals with.
"Kudos to Rosalia for continuing the process because it takes emotional strength to do so," said Amwaalwa.
She said the work can take a toll and that she left the organisation after dealing with the case of a missing toddler, Spencer Nakale, who went missing in December 2021 at the age of five. The duo started a protest in Keetmanshoop for Spencer.
"We never got justice for baby Spencer, which took an emotional toll on me," she said.
Growing work
When Hipondoka is not in talks with the community on social issues, she runs her own blog called Done By Serenity (DBS), where she publishes about the latest news and events.
DBS won the Spectrum Awards in 2022 for best media house.
Hipondoka hopes to further establish her brand and receive more support for her work at MPU. The activist is also a part of the African Missing Persons Unit.
She personally involves herself in the cases she reports on, which include speaking to the missing person’s next of kin and liaising with the Namibian police.
The Missing Persons Unit (MPU) was founded in May 2020 after Hipondoka was added to a WhatsApp group about the case of Shannon Wasserfall.
After the initial advocacy for Wasserfall, Hipondoka realised that there were more missing persons who needed help.
Tough job
If the families consent, MPU operations typically include a personal message on social media from the missing person's family members.
Before posting, Hipondoka waits 24 hours after the person has gone missing to publish the post on social media and then liaises with the authorities.
"I encourage family members to open a missing person’s case, and I am also affiliated with the police now," she said.
The process of advocating for missing people involves emotional strength, as described by a close friend, Wetu Amwaalwa, who has closely worked with Hipondoka.
Amwaalwa describes Hipondoka as committed, strong-willed, and resilient – important traits for the work she deals with.
"Kudos to Rosalia for continuing the process because it takes emotional strength to do so," said Amwaalwa.
She said the work can take a toll and that she left the organisation after dealing with the case of a missing toddler, Spencer Nakale, who went missing in December 2021 at the age of five. The duo started a protest in Keetmanshoop for Spencer.
"We never got justice for baby Spencer, which took an emotional toll on me," she said.
Growing work
When Hipondoka is not in talks with the community on social issues, she runs her own blog called Done By Serenity (DBS), where she publishes about the latest news and events.
DBS won the Spectrum Awards in 2022 for best media house.
Hipondoka hopes to further establish her brand and receive more support for her work at MPU. The activist is also a part of the African Missing Persons Unit.
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