Niël Terblanché
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security officially inaugurated a new Police Station in the Tutaleni neighborhood of Walvis Bay on Wednesday.
Albert Kawana, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, while officiating at the inauguration of the new Police Station called on the residents of Tutaleni to assist the Namibian Police to maintain peace and stability.
The new police station has a charge office, eight holding cells, a boardroom and 23 offices.
Accommodation for officers consists of two blocks of barracks with 40 bedrooms. There are also three three-bedroom houses that have garages, open plan lounges, dining and kitchen areas as well as drying yards.
There are also two guard houses, a service building, a small size soccer field, a parking area that doubles as a parade ground, roadways and a petrol station with a wash bay.
“Residents of the Erongo Region in general and Walvis Bay, in particular, must join hands with the Namibian Police Force and work with our men and women in uniform to contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability by participating in initiated policing programmes aimed at the provision of safety and security in our country,” Kawana said.
He added that people must embrace the philosophy of community policing by joining a neighbourhood watch or youth against crime organisations and by serving as police reservists.
“Any kind of community involvement and cooperation with the police will obviously enhance the protection of people’s lives and properties,” he said.
According to Kawana, cooperation on all levels with the Namibian Police will also boost the community’s confidence in the work of law enforcement, which will result in more citizens reporting criminals and their activities.
He said such collaboration would provide better opportunities for preventing and effectively combating crime.
ls are also from within the communities that all of us live in, so their deeds are invariably known by the communities they live in. In this context, I would like to appeal to the residents of Walvis Bay not to harbour criminals,” the Minister said.
A 16-seater Toyota Quantum, a single cab Toyota Hilux, two sedan cars and computers were also handed over to police officers stationed at the new police station.
“The computers will ensure that police officers deployed at this Police Station are able to fully utilise the E-Policing system,” Kawana said.
The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Joseph Shikongo, also called on the community to assist officers in fulfilling their mandate.
“As you are aware, the Force cannot win this war against crime alone.
I am appealing to all law-abiding citizens to join the Police, to intensify our crime prevention efforts and work closely together, to ensure that criminals do not find safe havens in our locations, towns, regions and our country,” Shikongo said.
He added that in order to assure that the community collaborates with the police, individual officers must remain disciplined and loyal to the system, the values and norms of the Namibian Police.
“It is the only way that we will be able to achieve our goals, aims and objectives. I get disheartened when i see or hear about people being discriminated against because of their tribal, ethnic, regional, and racial background. This is one of those very dangerous diseases that destroy nations, regions, towns, villages and homes,” he said.
The General has since urged all police officers to shy away from all forms of discrimination.
“We should rededicate ourselves to stand for professionalism, and deliver service to all people in Namibia regardless of race, tribal or ethnic linkage,” he said.
Shikongo said that the construction of facilities such as the new Police Station is crucial because it will not only improve policing service delivery to the public but will also result in improved living and working conditions for members of NamPol.
Shikongo further expressed gratitude to the government for improving and uplifting their working and living conditions.
“To our officers and members who will be utilising these facilities to deliver policing services to the community, I can only urge you to demonstrate a high level of commitment and responsibility and to take good care of the facilities, so that they will last for generations to come,” he said.
The General assured the public that the Namibian Police will do all they can, with limited resources, to continue guaranteeing the safety and security of residents.
