Niël Terblanché
A total of 4,682 officers of the Namibian Police, spanning ranks from constables to inspectors, were promoted to higher offices during a special parade held at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek.
The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, stressed that these promotions should not be perceived as mere decorations or rewards, but rather as a call to shoulder significant responsibilities.
According to General Shikongo, these responsibilities include a high level of accountability, unwavering commitment, and unwavering honesty in upholding the rule of law. He added that the promotion is a testament to the unwavering commitment and dedication to the national duties of the newly promoted officers.
General Shikongo highlighted the immense dedication, loyalty, resilience, and commitment required from police officers to fulfil their national duties effectively.
This mass promotion came on the heels of the approval and signing of the new Structure and Establishment of the Namibian Police Force on August 21, 2023.
This restructuring led to changes in office names, upgrades, mergers, new function establishments, and relocations, creating vacant positions that necessitated the appointment of competent officers.
According to General Shikongo, Article 119 (2) of the Namibian Constitution empowers the Inspector-General of Police to ensure a balanced structure within the force and make suitable appointments.
“This promotion ceremony serves to align the Namibian Police with the newly approved structure,” he said.
Out of the 4,682 officers promoted, 2,638 are male, and 2,044 are female, making up 44 percent of the promoted officers.
The promotions include 1,930 officers from Constable to Sergeant 2, 1,445 officers from Sergeant 2 to Sergeant 1, 600 officers from Sergeant 1 to Warrant Officer 2, and 707 officers from Warrant Officer 2 to Warrant Officer 1.
General Shikongo personally conferred ranks upon 50 officers during the parade, while the remaining promotions will be carried out by respective Regional Commanders.
General Shikongo thanked the central government for its continuous support and commitment to providing necessary resources for the police force.
He implored the newly promoted members to recognise the importance of officers complementing the government’s efforts by delivering quality law enforcement services to the citizens.
General Shikongo stressed that promotions are a recognition of officers’ dedication to national duties, and officers should embrace the accompanying responsibilities, including accountability, commitment, and upholding the rule of law.
He reminded the promoted officers that their higher ranks come with the duty to oversee and protect their communities from criminals.
General Shikongo encouraged the newly promoted officers to lead by example, foster professionalism, integrity, and accountability within the force, and be unifiers and symbols of fairness and impartiality.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration and communication with the public to ensure safety and security.
General Shikongo expressed the Namibian Police Force’s commitment to international collaboration, highlighting the recent partnership with the INTERPOL Global Academy Network.
“This collaboration aims to enhance training, offer courses to network members and INTERPOL member countries, and engage in joint projects in applied research,” he said.
General Shikongo directed Regional Commanders, Heads of Directorates, and Heads of First Divisions to conduct their promotion parades promptly.
“These newly promoted officers will play a pivotal role in achieving these goals and further enhancing the reputation of the Namibian Police Force both nationally and internationally while the country continues to strive for guaranteed safety, and security,” General Shikongo concluded.
