Swapo MP calls for more police cars

Swapo member of parliament (MP) Gerhard Shiimi has called on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security to make more police vehicles available to combat crimes.

Shiimi says there is a lack of vehicles at most police stations, which inhibits the police’s ability to fight crime.

He said this in parliament while giving his contribution on the appropriation bill on Tuesday.

“The safety and security of our people need to be boosted with the provision of enough vehicles to police stations.

The current vehicles at most stations are not only not enough to cater to the demands of the stations, but they are also very old and need to be revamped,” Shiimi said.

He said the police at different stations cannot attend to more than one call at a time, as well as do administrative functions, because of this lack.

“We call on the ministry to please look at a more economical way of ending this problem. We also want to call on police officers to please use the vehicles with due care,” Shiimi said.

According to him, police vehicles have been exposed to all forms of activities, from police officers driving under the influence of alcohol to illegally using vehicles for personal interest.

“Let us ensure we safeguard the vehicles, so that we can deliver to our core mandate as a law enforcement arm,” Shiimi said.

Earlier last month, home affairs minister Albert Kawana in parliament said to combat crime in the country, the police department requires an amount of N$4,5 billion.

“In a nutshell, the Combating of Crime Programme represents the main part of the core functions and activities of the Department of Police. Therefore, an amount of N$4,5 billion is requested for combating crime,” the minister said.

Kawana said out of this amount, N$245,4 million is earmarked for 36 capital projects countrywide.

GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL WELFARE

Shiimi also said there is a need to strengthen efforts in addressing domestic and gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

He said the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare should conduct awareness programms to educate people on what constitutes GBV.

“Our people are living under constant threat, and need our support on what constitutes these social ills and how and where to report them,” Shiimi said.

Popular Democratic Movement Women’s League acting secretary general Christine Isaacks last Wednesday said the party is gravely concerned about the egregious display of violence against women in the country.

“These numbers are not merely statistics, they represent the lives and dignity of our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends. Every fatality serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how urgently comprehensive and ongoing measures to address GBV are needed,” Isaacks said.

She said the police have revealed that over the past three months, 18 women have been brutally murdered, of which 11 fell victim to the hands of their romantic partners.

“This staggering figure is an alarming wake-up call for our nation, one that demands immediate and decisive action.

This epidemic of violence against women cannot be allowed to persist unchecked,” Isaacks said.

She called on the police to prioritise the investigations and prosecutions of GBV perpetrators, which would ensure that justice is served for the victims and their families.