Africa-Press – Namibia. Police officers stationed at the Wakashamane border post in the Okalongo constituency of Omusati region, say they are forced to conduct patrols on foot because there is no single government vehicle at the post, a situation that hinders efforts to manage the border effectively.
They described the situation as dire, saying it had become increasingly difficult to control movement of people and goods at the post, particularly smuggling.
The head of operations at the Wakashamane border post, Warrant officer Secilia Thomas, told the National Council’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional and Legal Affairs on Monday of the challenges hampering their operations.
“We need at least one vehicle so that we can drive around patrolling the area. This would make our work easier and faster, and help us combat crime,” Thomas told the committee.
She added that smuggling from Angola had increased because officers on foot are unable to effectively intercept vehicles.
“Vehicles drive through carrying goods, and it’s hard to chase or stop them on foot,” she said.
Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) officers also told the committee of challenges such as a lack of WiFi, CCTV cameras, and insufficient security infrastructure at the border posts.
They said as they deal with large sums of money, they feel unsafe, especially when there are not enough police officers on duty to ensure security.
Home Affairs and Immigration Services officials also raised concerns about the thick bushes around the border post, which make it difficult to control the movement of people. They also complained about the ministry’s slow pace in filling vacant positions, saying it puts pressure on the few staff members available.
Approached for comment, Omusati police regional commander Commissioner Ismael Basson confirmed that Wakashamane border post has no government vehicle.
“We are waiting for the government to allocate funds to purchase vehicles,” he said.
The standing committee also visited the Oshikango border post, where they engaged various officers about the challenges faced at entry point.
The visit also served as a follow-up on recommendations made in 2022, which were submitted to the responsible ministries and agencies for implementation. The recommendations include improving border infrastructure and increasing human resources.
Ndjambula Philemon, chairperson of the committee, expressed satisfaction with progress made at Wakashamane border post despite the challenges.
Philemon attributed many of the difficulties faced by staff at the border post to a lack of communication and proper coordination between line ministries and agencies.
“We have recommended that ministries and agencies work together so they can share resources to make it easier for officials to manage the border posts,” he added.
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