Oshana sees drop in GBV cases

Oshana governor Elia Irimari says the region has seen a decrease in gender-based violence (GBV) over the past year.

He says crime in the region has decreased from 636 cases reported in the last financial year compared to 328 cases reported this year during the same period.

Irimari said this during the state of the region address held on Friday at Oshakati.

“I would like to implore the people to keep cooperating with the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Namibian Police.

Working together with the government’s law enforcement authorities is our shared duty in order to successfully address gender-based violence, criminality and corruption in the Oshana region,” he said.

Irimari highlighted that inspite this, the police cluster in the region continues to undertake work to root out the scourge.
This includes improving how the police and the community responds to GBV.

He added that the region’s security team has put a lot of effort into upholding law and order and managing the region’s security situation.

“There was a slight decrease of the general trend in crime of 0,74% from 12 576 cases reported during 2022/2023 financial year compared to 12 484 cases in 2023/2024 financial year.

“Although crimes like robbery and theft under false pretenses has been escalating during the year under review, we are proud that the men and women in uniform have been on task of apprehending

criminals with the assistance of the community,” said Irimari.

Irimari noted that the Oshana region has been hit hard by the drought and a total number 16 010 households are receiving drought relief food though the Office of the Prime Minister programme.

He highlighted some of the challenges facing the region, such as limited water infrastructure for agricultural production and aging water pipelines, high unemployment rate and climatic factors posing food insecurity for both people and livestock.

“The provision of affordable housing remains a challenge in the Oshana region as in the country at large, as well as limited access to business finance by the small and medium enterprises in the region and illegal land grabbing and fencing,” he said.