Niël Terblanché
The recent spate of violent attacks targeting international tourists in Namibia has been condemned in the strongest terms.
The wave of attacks, which included robberies and assaults using different weapons, have been reported in various parts of the country, including Windhoek and Okahandja.
Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said he is gravely concerned about the attacks and called on all Namibians to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against crimes committed against tourists or any other crime where vulnerable members of society and innocent tourists are victims.
“We are gravely concerned about the recent wave of violent attacks targeting international tourists. The safety of our tourists is paramount to us,” Shifeta said.
The minister said the safety of tourists is paramount to the tourism industry, which is a major contributor to the Namibian economy.
“We are working in unison with the entire tourism and hospitality sector to erect a ring of steel to protect Namibia’s reputation as one of the safest destinations in the world,” he said.
The minister said that engagement with law enforcement agencies has been established to look into the element of policing crimes against tourists.
“We are working with the law enforcement agencies to bring these criminals to justice,” said Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Heather Amukwaya. “We urge tourists to be vigilant and to take precautions to stay safe.”
Shifeta said that criminal gangs are changing their targets to tourists.
“Through our engagements with the Namibian Police, it is expected that we design a robust surveillance and intelligent mechanism to bring these criminals to the book,” he said.
The minister called on tourists to be vigilant and to take precautions to stay safe, such as avoiding walking alone at night and not picking up hitchhikers.
“We call upon all stakeholders to condemn this barbaric action. Stakeholders should coordinate to root out this this unwanted enemy,” of our economy,” he said.
As a popular tourist destination, Namibia is known for its stunning scenery, diverse wildlife, and friendly people while the tourism industry is a major contributor to the Namibian economy, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.
