31 July jerks police into action

POLICE Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga says threats to grab land should be taken seriously and police need to prepare for any eventuality.

Addressing police regional commanders yesterday at Otjiwarongo ahead of the 31 July deadline set by the Affirmative Repositioning group, Ndeitunga said there is need for a police responsive plan.

Ndeitunga said no ordinary leave application by police officers will be approved from tomorrow until 15 August 2015, and all applications that had already been approved for leave during that period should be considered cancelled.

“Properly equipped manpower under effective command must be mobilised in all regions,” he said, urging the officers to act professionally, impartially and within the law.

The Namibian understands that members of the special reserve force have been training for about a month now, in preparation for events on that day.

Ndeitunga explained that this is part of their monthly schedule, which is carried out to prepare them for emergencies.

He also said Job Amupanda, George Kambala and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma held several meetings that were attended by members of the Namibia War Veterans Trust to prepare them for 31 July.

According to Ndeitunga, the meetings were held at Goreangab Dam in Windhoek and Independence Beach at Walvis Bay last month.

“We should therefore strategise on how to provide an effective police presence to ensure the maintenance of law and order, save lives and protect property,” he said.

He revealed that the police were ordered to mobilise sufficient human resources and equipment as well as to coordinate with other agencies to ensure optimum preparedness.

Ndeitunga also urged his officers to ensure that credible evidence is collected on the scene and elsewhere to justify police action and provide evidence to prove the action of suspected offenders.

“I must caution that you should only act after a proper assessment was made of the prevailing situation. Therefore, you as commanders must be personally involved in the handling of this threat.”

Ndeitunga said although the legal consultative forum that was convened by the AR claimed that it is not a crime to occupy land for residential purposes and that no one should be deprived of land ownership, “it is common knowledge that, like in any other democratic state, everything has to be done within the confines of the law”.

Ndeitunga advised Namibians to demand their rights peacefully through established laws, procedures and regulations and to gather peacefully because it becomes a concern when the police see pictures of firearms and other dangerous weapons on social media posted by individuals who encourage people to be violent in the quest for land. Amupanda yesterday wrote on his Facebook page that Ndeitunga has been instructed by politicians to threaten, scare and intimidate the youth whom he attacked and insulted.

Should Ndeitunga continue to insult and threaten them, Amupanda said, they will consider occupying the land in Kavango, which he reportedly owns, to show how serious the youth are.

“I think elders like him should not waste time with empty threats because we are not intimidated or scared. Prepare for a career in land policing because we will not stop,” Amupanda asserted.

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