Africa-Press – Namibia. OSHIKOTO Governor Penda ya Ndakolo has urged members of the public to work hard to improve public safety and security.
Ya Ndakolo made the call during his State of the Region Address (SORA) on Thursday at Omuthiya, stating that everyone needs to work together and join hands in efforts to create a crime-free community.
“I would therefore like to applaud the Oshikoto Police, as well as members of the public, the Men and Women Network, and all individuals and entities involved in crime prevention in our region for their dedication,” he said.
According to the governor, during the last quarter of the financial year under review, rape cases were reduced by 58%, suicide cases went down by 21%, and stock theft declined by 53% compared to the same quarter of the previous financial year.
While this is a positive development, Ya Ndakolo said the concern remains that most Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, such as rape, are perpetrated against minors by people who are supposed to take care of those children.
“The perpetrators of GBV are mostly relatives, guardians, and neighbours. This is indeed disturbing,” he added.
He then indicated that they must all redouble their efforts to fight crime. “Let us utilize various means such as education and awareness campaigns in schools and other public places.”
However, Ya Ndakolo stressed that most importantly, they need to strive to raise their children in the right way at home. When children are raised correctly, they will surely grow into responsible members of society.
Further, on the issue of road accidents, Ya Ndakolo said that their region continues to be a cause for concern.
During the period under review, a total of 217 crashes were recorded in the Oshikoto region, resulting in 482 injuries and 50 fatalities. Rollovers accounted for the highest number of crashes, followed by pedestrian-related crashes and collisions, at 28%, 25%, and 21%, respectively.
“The high number of rollovers and pedestrian-related cases, which stood at 60 and 55 in total, respectively, definitely points to speeding on our roads as well as driving under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
He said that the major cause of accidents in the region, and the country at large, can without a doubt be attributed to bad attitudes on the road.
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