4 529 crime cases reported in Omusati

The latest crime statistics of the Omusati region revealed by the region’s governor, Erginus Endjala, show that 447 cases of common assault and assault by threat were reported in the region last year and in the first quarter of 2023.

Endjala on Friday said 257 cases involving domestic violence were reported in the region during the same period, and 112 cases of rape.

According to him, 653 cases of theft, and 513 cases of housebreaking were reported to the police.

The region also reported 232 cases of stock theft, 226 cases of fraud, 129 cases of theft of cellphones, and 111 cases of robbery.

Endjala revealed these statistics during his state of the region address at Outapi on Friday.

“To reduce crime, the Namibian Police are activating and increasing foot and vehicle patrols to [increase] their visibility and improve crime detection,” he said.

Endjala said 118 people in the region died in incidents of shooting, suicide, drowning, and suffocation.

He said 81 people of these people took their lives, 18 suffocated, and 16 drowned.

Some 13 children drowned in buckets of water, oshikundu, water ponds and water canals due to a lack of parental care, he said.

“Most often toddlers who drowned have been left unattended, while their guardians or parents were out at shebeens. Some 16 infants mysteriously died by suffocating,” Endjala said.

The governor said the police are taking strong action against “such careless parents and guardians by filing criminal charges against them and bringing them to court to face prosecution”.

He said the number of criminal cases has increased from 4 079 last year to 4 529 this year.

Omusati police commissioner Ismael Basson on Sunday said they continue to look for ways and means to curb crime by having more crime prevention operations and police visibility, night and day patrols and searches.

“The high crime rate definitely worries me. I am more worried than surprised about the high rate of crime in the region, and am thus looking forward to reduce it significantly going forward,” he said.

OVERCROWDED POLICE CELLS

Endjala said delayed criminal cases in court are partly contributing to congestion in police holding cells.

He said the region has 16 police stations, but only six with holding cells, with a capacity for 309 people, yet 609 are currently detained.

Basson did not respond to questions sent to him yesterday.

DROUGHT

Endjala said the region is faced with water scarcity for both human and animal consumption and agricultural purposes.

He urged residents of the region to build resilience in fighting climate change.

He said the Office of the Prime Minister allocated drought relief food which include 62 480 (12,5kg) bags of maize meal, 62 480 (12,5kg) bags of mahangu meal, and 124 960 (750ml) bottles of cooking oil.

Other items were soya mince and tinned fish.

These items were allocated between August 2022 and March this year.

A total of 15 620 households have 74 841 beneficiaries from five drought-declared constituencies, namely parts of Outapi, Ruacana, Tsandi, Onesi and Okahao.

Commenting on the governor’s speech, Outapi councillor Immanuel Shikongo said the majority of the residents of his constituency are hungry.

“When you visit villages, even for hospital-related issues, people will ask you for food. We are in trouble when it comes to food,” he said.

Shikongo said all residents of the Omusati region who are hungry should benefit from drought-relief food.

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