Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIAN Police inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga hauled senior police officers over the coals yesterday at Swakopmund for not taking a tougher stance on crime. He also lamented the ill-discipline within the rank and file of the Namibian Police.
“It’s time to clean house,” he told regional commanders, heads of divisions and first division officers during a special slot later included in the programme of the two-day annual general meeting (AGM) of the Namibian Police’s benevolence fund, of which he is the president.
Ndeitunga spoke out against police officers who “think they are Michael Schumacher”, or are “rotten apples” who connive with inmates to smuggle contraband, drugs and weapons inside holding cells. He also addressed “lazy members, [who] sit in the office and keep the chair warm,” instead of upping the fight against increasing crime, as well as members who “are just there to collect salaries” and not do what is expected.
According to Ndeitunga, this has resulted in increasing crime and society losing faith in the police’s ability to ensure their safety. Shocking statistics of crimes committed between 1 April and 1 August this year include 115 accidents involving police vehicles, while cases opened against police officers were also said to be “skyrocketing”.
Ndeitunga said the culprits must be dealt with and their prosecution speeded up. “Something is wrong. This is a shocking situation and cannot be tolerated.”
Ndeitunga said police involvement in crime puts additional financial strain on the country that is already in a financially precarious situation. He also made reference to recent incidents where contraband cigarettes, drugs and weapons were discovered in holding cells, and accused the police of lacking the strict control expected of them in charge offices.
“If you relax, you will have this happening,” he said. “Those rotten apples who assist with these activities cannot be allowed to continue, they are an embarrassment to the force and to the nation.”
A list of instructions will be issued to regional commanders to ensure they enforce their duties and discipline, which seems to be “absent”. They will then have to give regular feedback on the implementation of these instructions.
He also bemoaned the slow pace of police investigations and some cases that go on “for years”. He called for reviewed strategies to ensure investigations solve cases and expose syndicates, as well as the proceeds of crime.
Despite these issues, Ndeitunga said the fact that police cells are congested is a result of the police’s good efforts. He applauded the majority of the police force for proudly honouring their jobs for the sake of maintaining law and order in Namibia.
“The year 2021 has been a challenging year, we had to do away with old habits and migrate to new ways of doing things, fondly referred to as the ‘new normal’. While criminals are continuing develop new strategies, we also need to adopt to different approaches to prevent, detect, disrupt and curb crime,” he said.
Other crime figures since 1 April revealed by Ndeitunga include 2 469 cases of domestic and gender-based violence (which include murder and rape), robbery (2 270), housebreaking (4 785), assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (4 327), drug possession and dealing (1 157), and stock theft (1 600).
