Niël Terblanché
The Inspector-General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has assured the public that the Namibian Police’s general crime-fighting and prevention efforts will be intensified this year to ensure the safety of all.
“I would like to indicate that the 2025 crime prevention operations, traffic law enforcement, anti-poaching operations, and efforts against drug trafficking and dealings will be intensified,” he said.
Shikongo said during a special briefing on Monday when he voiced serious concern over the increasing incidents of child exploitation through prostitution and the spread of child pornography.
According to him the police and other law enforcement agencies observed a disturbing rise in the possible exploitation of Namibian children where sex with children and related content is advertised on social media.
“We cannot overstate the gravity of this situation because these acts are not just crimes against individual children; they are crimes against humanity, society, and the very principles of decency and justice,” Shikongo said.
Shikongo urged parents, teachers, and guardians to remain vigilant regarding the safety of children.
“Know what your children are doing, educate them about the dangers of immoral practices, and encourage open communication. We urge everyone to act responsibly, report suspicious activities, support awareness campaigns, and join us in creating a safer environment for our children. Let us ensure that no child suffers from any form of sexual exploitation,” he said.
Apart from sex trafficking, minors have over the years fallen prey to paedophiles in their homes and at schools.
The most recent case reported to the Namibian Police involves a 33-year-old teacher, who worked in Walvis Bay, and who was arrested at the beginning of October last year.
The man stands accused of raping a minor and sexually assaulting another child in a storeroom at the school where he is employed.
Research on the internet showed that between January 2021 and December 2023, the Namibian Police investigated and prosecuted 28 cases involving sex trafficking of children.
In the period from April 2023 to August 2023, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare reported that it is investigating eight cases of trafficking in persons.
Of these, five cases are still pending before various courts while another case resulted in a conviction under the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act.
During the same timeframe, the ministry provided accommodation to 26 victims of trafficking. This included 12 children.
The United States of America’s Department of State’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report indicates that Namibian children are subjected to sex trafficking within the country, particularly in larger urban centres.
The same report states that children from neighbouring countries, such as Angola and Zambia, are trafficked and exploited in forced labour in sectors like agriculture, cattle herding, and domestic servitude.
