Allexer Namundjembo & Mallex Shipanga
Former City Police Chief Abraham Kanime, the first Chief of the City Police, who served from the establishment of the law enforcement unit in 2005 until his retirement in 2023, was honoured with the renaming of the City Police headquarters building by the City of Windhoek.
At the ceremony on Monday, he thanked the City of Windhoek Municipality for renaming the P.A. De Wet Building after him.
“I first came across this building in 1978 when we came here looking for job opportunities. Without knowing, the building which I usually visited during the colonial times is now named after me, which I much appreciate,” Kanime said.
Windhoek Mayor, Queen Kamati said the council, through the Heritage Committee, passed a resolution to honour the City Police’s first chief in recognition of his efforts to build the police.
“As first chief of the police, Chief Kanime played a major role in structuring and leading the police department. His leadership, vision and unwavering commitment were instrumental and continue to be instrumental. He assisted in establishing the foundation of the police, and as we reflect on the progress made, we honour the legacy he initiated 19 years ago,” she said.
Kamati added that the building bears the name of P.A. de Wet, the first administrator of Katutura Township during Namibia’s segregation era.
She further added that, despite its historical significance, little is known about De Wet’s personal history.
“The building’s naming reflects its association with the implementation of segregation policies in Katutura, a system condemned internationally as apartheid,” she said.
“Today we stand on historic ground, not only to rename a building but to honour a legacy,” Kamati said.
The City of Windhoek Heritage Committee chairperson, Professor Job Amupanda has said Kanime played an important role when he was chief of police.
He said Kanime not only contributed to the police department but also made sure that vendors were protected.
“We must first appreciate the men and women in uniform. The only thing that America remains the largest economy in the world is because of its strongest security forces. It is very important to value the contributions that our police officers make towards our economy, Amupanda said.
He further added that the Council will also consider renaming some streets.
“We still have some locations that need to be renamed. We have streets like Sin Street, and Lucifer Street, and locations such as Donkerhoek that need to be renamed. Donkerhoek, which means ‘The dark corner’, was named due to the darkness that was there when there was no electricity, but why does it still carry that name?” Amupanda said.
