Former addict warns of gambling's harmful impact on families and finances

Esegeel Kondombolo, a Windhoek resident, shared his 22-year struggle with gambling addiction, which led to neglecting his family and responsibilities, and losing two jobs. He realized the extent of his problem after engaging with social workers from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, acknowledging that gambling caused misunderstandings and a loss of trust within his family. Kondombolo emphasized that gambling often results in losses and can damage relationships. His testimony was part of a multi-stakeholder conversation on responsible gambling hosted by the Namibia Development Trust Fund Namdef in Windhoek. Gisela Kalipi, a clinical psychologist at the health ministry, noted that gambling-related issues often present alongside substance-related concerns, making early identification difficult, especially with increased digital accessibility. She added that individuals typically seek help only after significant harm, such as clinical impairment or severe financial loss, has occurred. Alpheus Matlata, assistant manager of treatment services at the South Africa Responsible Gambling Foundation, highlighted Namibia's strong position due to the health ministry's active involvement. He suggested that stakeholder collaboration could lead to a national self-exclusion system. Vataaupi Kauuova, chief administrative officer at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, stressed the importance of household-level action and anonymous reporting systems for earlier intervention in addr