‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ kicks off

POLICE inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga emphasised that the newly launched ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ will serve to intensively flush out criminals, during its launch in Windhoek yesterday.

“It’ll never end,” Ndeitunga said about the continuation of the crime curbing operations. He explained that ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ will run in intervals until December.

“Criminals should know that it has started and will never end.” He added that another operation would be introduced in January. Although he could not reveal how much the operations cost, he said they are costly.

Played in by a vibrant parade at the Israel Iyambo Police Training College, ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ replaces ‘Operation Hornkranz’ which ended last Friday, following its inauguration by president Hage Geingob last December.

Earlier this year, The Namibian reported that Nama Traditional Leaders Association denounced the naming of ‘Operation Hornkranz’ saying the code name was insensitive to the Nama tribe who were affected by the 1893 Hornkranz massacre.

The joint operation will still be comprised of members of the Namibian Police Force, Namibian Defence Force, Namibian Correctional Service and Windhoek City Police.

Ndeitunga mentioned that the operation might call on other stakeholders to assist, should the need arise.

He added that immigration, the agriculture ministry, the environment ministry as well as the tourism ministry would be some of the stakeholders whose help the majorly police-led operation would call upon for backup.

Denouncing the brutality which marred the just ended ‘Operation Hornkranz’, the police inspector urged uniformed forces to approach citizens with friendliness. He added that the uniformed troops should only resort to violence as the last line of defence.

Ndeitunga warned people to refrain from making false claims against members of the operation, giving an example of a woman who was recently assaulted by her partner.

According to him, she then pinned the assault on the ongoing wave of ‘Operation Hornkranz’ alleged beatings.

Although that many people have reported that they were assaulted by the police two weeks ago, the inspector general said the brutality associated with the just ended operation is a far cry from the reality on the ground.

“Go into the communities to interview and get the impression of the community. Most people are just getting the negative side and not positive. Many members of the public are happy. Some are saying in our area there are no more cellphone grabbers. There are no more people who threaten us,” Ndeitunga said.

At the same event, the acting head of city police, Nathaniel Nendongo, welcomed the continuation of the operation as a bonus.

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