Recently, Namibia – Windhoek in particular – has experienced a wave of street crimes, including robberies, kidnappings, muggings, vehicle break-ins, home invasions, and daily snatchings.
For weeks, social media has been dominated by discussions of the Mazda Demios terrorising and harassing unsuspecting people, particularly women, in the early hours as they finish work or school. I must state that Namibians are very good at peddling stories and creating psychological warfare and hysteria, rather than joining hands to address the situation, thanks to the power of social media.
Windhoek is a small city with a unique social lifestyle and a vibrant culture. Believe me, the so-called racketeers live among us.
In most cases, the community knows who these ruffians are, yet because they bring money and other valuable items home, people comment and insult others on social media, joking that “our brothers/sons and boyfriends are hustling”.
We must remember that crime is a deadly virus, and if not addressed at its early stages, it can infect and infest homes, communities, and the nation at large.
Effective crime prevention is a shared responsibility involving individuals, law enforcement, parents, youth, social services, and the community as a whole.
Society ought to promote closer cooperation between law-enforcement agencies and the public, especially among the police and prosecutors, to apply the rule of law against criminals to its full extent, making enforcement more stringent against perpetrators.
Criminals are slowly taking over our community; cellphone grabbing and wiping are now normalised and treated like a willing-seller, willing-buyer transaction.
Most people blame the police for not doing their best to curb crime, but what are you doing as a concerned citizen to ensure the safety of those around you?
If we are not proactive in our security alertness and consciousness as a nation, crime and criminality could destroy the nation, its livelihood, and reverse development.
Actions, not words.
– Johannes Emvula
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