MPs ask Ekandjo to give answers on crime rate

THE National Assembly is to discuss the possibility of involving private security companies in the fight against crime.

Next week Thursday Home Affairs Minister, Jerry Ekandjo, will respond to a series of questions from Congress of Democrats (CoD) Chairman, Ignatius Shixwameni, on the matter. The opposition parliamentarian informed the Assembly yesterday that he would like to know the degree of co-operation between private and State security establishments in combating crime.”Does the Minister have any plans for co-operation with the private security establishments in order to jointly help detect, prevent and combat the escalating crime rate in the country?” Shixwameni asked.The CoD lawmakers also wants the Minister to reveal the number of registered security firms in the country and the total number of officers they employ.He stated that his questions have been prompted by the escalating crime rate in the country and “the apparent increase of private security companies with a different approach to that of regular policing, in combating crime”.The DTA-UDF coalition’s Alois Gende gave notice that on the same day he will ask the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing whether he is aware that sewerage water is flowing all over Katima Mulilo causing “a stinking atmosphere in the town”.Gende appealed to the Minister, Joel Kaapanda, to assist the Town Council with funds to build another sewerage dam to avoid health hazards.He also wants Kaapanda to deny or confirm whether his Ministry has instructed the Katima Mulilo Town Council to retrench about two-thirds of its workforce because of the non availability of funds to pay their salaries.Another question Gende wants answered is why the “whole part” of the bridge currently being constructed over the Zambezi River, is on the Zambian side and not “at least in the middle of the no-man’s land this side of the river”.He expects Works, Transport and Communication Minister Moses Alweendo to provide the answer.The opposition MP claimed that if completed as it stands today, the bridge will accord Zambian nationals free movement from their side to the Namibian side of the border.Gende’s colleague, Philemon Moongo, will ask the same minister whether there are plans to tar the roads between Katima Mulilo, Linyanti and Kongola which were apparently damaged by the recent heavy rains.The opposition parliamentarian informed the Assembly yesterday that he would like to know the degree of co-operation between private and State security establishments in combating crime.”Does the Minister have any plans for co-operation with the private security establishments in order to jointly help detect, prevent and combat the escalating crime rate in the country?” Shixwameni asked.The CoD lawmakers also wants the Minister to reveal the number of registered security firms in the country and the total number of officers they employ.He stated that his questions have been prompted by the escalating crime rate in the country and “the apparent increase of private security companies with a different approach to that of regular policing, in combating crime”.The DTA-UDF coalition’s Alois Gende gave notice that on the same day he will ask the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing whether he is aware that sewerage water is flowing all over Katima Mulilo causing “a stinking atmosphere in the town”.Gende appealed to the Minister, Joel Kaapanda, to assist the Town Council with funds to build another sewerage dam to avoid health hazards.He also wants Kaapanda to deny or confirm whether his Ministry has instructed the Katima Mulilo Town Council to retrench about two-thirds of its workforce because of the non availability of funds to pay their salaries.Another question Gende wants answered is why the “whole part” of the bridge currently being constructed over the Zambezi River, is on the Zambian side and not “at least in the middle of the no-man’s land this side of the river”.He expects Works, Transport and Communication Minister Moses Alweendo to provide the answer.The opposition MP claimed that if completed as it stands today, the bridge will accord Zambian nationals free movement from their side to the Namibian side of the border.Gende’s colleague, Philemon Moongo, will ask the same minister whether there are plans to tar the roads between Katima Mulilo, Linyanti and Kongola which were apparently damaged by the recent heavy rains.