Niël Terblanché
The commitment to excellence, discipline, and service to the nation of officers of the Namibian Police was rewarded with ranks and promotions at a special parade at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek on Monday.
Nearly 3 000 officers received their promotions and ranks during the parade.
The promotions, which became effective on 1 November, saw 2 990 officers promoted.
Of this number 1 342 are women and 1 648 men.
The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo presided over the event, where the commitment and dedication of the nation’s law enforcement personnel were celebrated.
Shikongo highlighted the essence of the occasion, acknowledging the unwavering dedication of police officers to their national duties.
“It is a known fact that it takes a lot of commitment, loyalty, resilience, and dedication for a police officer to deliver on their national duties. This event is one of those joyful occasions that marks the conferment of ranks to some of the hardworking men and women in the Namibian Police Force,” he said.
According to Shikongo, the parade is part of a broader effort by the Namibian Police to acknowledge and reward exceptional service.
He also expressed gratitude to the central government for its support, which made the promotions possible.
“While the government continues to play its role in providing the necessary resources through budgetary allocations, it is our duty to complement these efforts by delivering quality law enforcement services,” he said.
Shikongo, however, stressed that promotions are not merely ceremonial but carry significant responsibilities.
“A promotion should not be seen as a mere decoration or just a reward. The higher you go, the more responsibilities you bear. Promoted officers are expected to oversee the work of others, uphold the rule of law, and maintain high levels of accountability, commitment, and honesty,” he said.
The General called on the newly promoted officers to lead by example, devise innovative crime prevention strategies, and continue to uphold the values of the Police Force.
“You should not relax and feel that you have now become bosses. Your duty remains to serve and protect the people,” he said.
The parade coincided with the announcement of the Police Force’s 34th anniversary on 26 November 2024.
Reflecting on the institution’s journey over the past 34 years, Shikongo praised the resilience and professionalism of its officers.
“From bustling urban centres to remote corners of our land, our officers have exhibited an unyielding dedication to justice and public safety,” he said.
He added that despite their efforts, challenges such as high crime rates persist, with theft, assault, and housebreaking among the most prevalent crimes recorded from November 2023 to September 2024.
The General also addressed the Police’s preparedness for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly Elections on Wednesday.
He assured the public of robust security measures, including the deployment of 4 677 officers to polling stations and the establishment of a National Joint Operations Centre to oversee the electoral process.
Shikongo called upon all police officers to redouble their efforts in serving the nation.
