Nuusita Ashipala
ONGWEDIVA – Police in Omusati and Ohangwena said they are ready to ensure that safety protocols are adhered to during the upcoming regional and local authority elections slated for next week Wednesday.
Speaking to New Era in a telephonic interview, Omusati regional commander Titus Shikongo said the presence of the police will be felt from the day the election material arrives in the region.He said police officers will also be deployed to all polling stations across the region.
Shikongo also said a team of investigators will be on standby to respond to any election report that will require investigation.
The same sentiments were shared by his counterpart in Ohangwena Elizabeth Mukete-Sibolile. Mukete-Sibolile said two police officers will be deployed at every polling station across the region.
She further said the whole team, including herself, the four deputy commissioners as well as chief inspectors and inspectors will be in the field to supervise operations.
Thus far, the two regional commanders have described the campaigns to have been peaceful besides the minor complaints that were registered.
Shikongo said the police in Omusati have been in constant contact will all political parties to sensitise them on the code of conduct.
“We have been encouraging them to convey a message to their supporters to make the campaign process peaceful and non-confrontational,” said Shikongo.
Throughout the campaigns, Shikongo said they have notified political parties to notify them of their events taking place and intimidations should there be any.
In Omusati, the police have only registered a single case stemming from the campaigns. A 30-year-old Michael Shikolalye from Omatemba
village in the Ruacana constituency appeared before the Outapi Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday this week.
The case was postponed to 17 March next year.
He was arrested over the weekend and released on warning to appear in court after he allegedly damaged a PDM flag during a campaign meeting at Omatemba on Saturday.
Shikolalye is alleged to have started a confrontation with one PDM member he had a personal issue with.
The confrontation is alleged to have gotten physical and, in the process, damaged the flag that the victim was carrying.
Shikolalye is facing a case of malicious damage to property.
The police in Ohangwena also registered one case linked to the upcoming elections after a police officer allegedly shot at a member of the Independent Patriots for Change at Ongha.
Mukete-Sibolile said the officer was charged and has appeared in court.
“The matter is now before the court hence, I cannot comment further,” she said.
– nashipala@nepc.com.na