Day: April 16, 2024

Kunene Region Governor, Marius Sheya has called for concerted efforts to modernise and decentralise police services to better serve the public and reduce bureaucracy. Sheya made the call during Monday's stakeholders' engagement meeting in Opuwo with the Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, held to reaffirm and strengthen the longstanding relationship with the community. Central to the discussions were the community's support for Namibia's rule of law initiatives, as well as the completion of the ongoing construction of the regional police headquarters at Opuwo. Sheya argued that the demand for police services is driven by both government policy decisions and communities, in addition to requests to preserve law and order. As a consequence, Sheya stated that modernisation and decentralisation of different services, such as car clearance and the issuing of arms licences, should be implemented at all police stations, as well as the installation of the internet an d computers, to allow the police to better serve the people. 'As we always talk about service delivery, as for somebody to stand up from Khorixas or Kamanjab, to hike here or Oshakati for police clearance, whether for arms clearance, it is something the police, under the inspector's reign, can accomplish,' he went on to say. Similarly, Sheya remarked that he wants the people to be able to readily utilise these services at every police station, as it will be meaningful to visit any police station and find a copy machine and a computer that can assist them with anything they require. Furthermore, Sheya requested that permanent roadblocks be built in the region's hot spots for stock theft and poaching, as well as additional police stations in hard-to-reach areas, to help curb crime and reduce overcrowding at some police stations. The governor also commended the police work in the region, adding that Kunene police have been effective since he became governor, indicating a positive working relationship that ex tends beyond police services. On his part, Shikongo assured that Sheya's proposal would be given top priority, since it is critical to modernise and decentralise police services, including the establishment of more police stations in the region. He, too, feels that more has to be done to allow the police to serve the public steadfastly, as he calls on all stakeholders to work together to assist the police carry out their missions. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The suspect in the murder case of the deceased 29-year-old Frieda Amadhila is set to appear on 25 April 2024 at the Katutura Magistrate's Court. According to Namibian Police Force Senior Investigator Joseph Ndokosho, the 22-year-old suspect is expected to appear in court on charges of murder and housebreaking following the stabbing of Amadhila on 08 April 2024 at her residence in Ballot Street, Windhoek. The suspect allegedly broke into the victim's home and stabbed her three times on the chest with a kitchen knife and scissors. It was later confirmed that the suspect was an ex-boyfriend of the deceased and had been hospitalised after the incident following an alleged self-inflicted wound on his throat. 'The suspect has been in critical condition but he is slowly recovering in the hospital,' said Ndokosho. Amadhila who was a Market Analyst at Nedbank was buried on Saturday, 14 April 2024 at her family's residential home at Elombe in the Ohangwena Region. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Kunene Region community has been called upon to remain united in their mission to ensure security in their diverse communities and to continue bridging the socio-psychological gap between the police and the public. Namibian Police Force Inspector General, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, made the call on Monday at a stakeholders' engagement meeting in Opuwo, which was held to reaffirm and enhance the longstanding relationship with the community. Central to the discussions was the community's support for Namibia's rule of law activities as well as the completion of the ongoing construction of the regional police headquarters in Opuwo. According to Shikongo, 'strength is in unity.' He consequently urged for a cohesive approach to tackling crime in the region, emphasising that community policing plays a crucial part in aiding the police in preventing and combating crime. Shikongo pleaded with communities to take proactive measures to reduce prospective crime, recommending that people should work toge ther to report criminal activities to the police and refrain from acquiring or purchasing suspected stolen possessions. He further warned against societal discord, noting its potential to breed criminal elements due to a lack of community cohesion. 'Not communicating with each other causes challenges; we invite criminals to get in between us… So as a community, let us unite and fight crime, let us report crimes, because someone will break into your house and your neighbour will not say anything because you do not communicate,' Shikongo stated. He furthermore said the Namibian Police will have a graduation ceremony for over 1 000 new cadet officers in Oshakati on 03 May 2024, which will further help to minimise crime and provide conscientious service to the public. He also announced that 1 700 additional police officers will begin training on 01 July 2024. According to Shikongo, 70 of the 1 700 recruits are from the reservist programme, 1 230 are students who met the requirements, and 130 are justice spec ialist students from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), while 200 are from the National Youth Council. Seventy are from the men and women policing network. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

South Africa's Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga on Tuesday extended well wishes to Namibia and Botswana, ahead of their respective National elections set for later in the year. Chikunga in a speech read on her behalf at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between South Africa, Namibia and Botswana for the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) Secretariat said: 'We are in an election year, as are our member states. Tell them that we as the Republic of South Africa will have free and fair elections. Tell our friends in Botswana and Namibia that we wish them well, in their pursuit for the advocacy and the advancement of development and democracy.' Namibia is set to go to the polls in November 2024, for the National Presidential and National Assembly elections. Botswana will host its National elections in October 2024 while South Africans are expected to vote in May 2024. The TKC is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the MoU between South Africa, Namibia and Botswana with a cycle challenge from Rustenburg South Africa, through Lobatse, Botswana, to Walvis Bay in Namibia. The Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS) is a tripartite transboundary Corridor Management Institution which was established with a political and economic vision to pursue or contribute towards deeper regional integration programmes of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). This is to be achieved by linking the port of Walvis Bay on the west coast to the port of Maputo on the east coast of Africa. The TKC connects highways of Namibia commencing at the port of Walvis Bay through Kanye and Lobatse in Botswana to South Africa, mainly to the industrial heartland of the greater Gauteng,' Chikunga said. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The governments of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa have pledged to recommit themselves to continue facilitating the seamless movement of goods and persons on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC). The three countries kicked off their 20th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday, with a cycle challenge from Rustenburg, South Africa, via Lobatse in Botswana to Walvis Bay, Namibia. The agreement between the three countries was signed on 03 November 2003. In a pledge read by the Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat Co-Chair Segodi Mogotsi, in Rustenburg, the countries also pledged to simplify and harmonise the requirements and controls that govern the movement of goods and persons to reduce transport costs and transit times. 'The three member states pledge to continue to promote safety and security on the Trans Kalahari Corridor with the view to ensure the safety of users through regular joint law enforcement operations and border controls,' the pledge reads. The pledge further stated that the countries will ensure that the road and infrastructure on the TKC is kept in a condition that responds to the needs of the corridor users. 'The three member states pledge to promote spatial development initiatives on the TKC in order to enhance the livelihoods of persons living along the corridor,' it further states. South Africa's Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, represented at the signing ceremony by the Chairperson of the South African Local Government Association, Khumalo Molefe signed the pledge. Transport Minister of Namibia, John Mutorwa and Botswana Transport Minister Mothibi Molale will also sign the pledge, during the cycle challenge en route to Walvis Bay. Source: The Namibia Press Agency