Windhoek
Otjozondjupa Police Regional Commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute, says the region needs nearly 2 000 police officers to combat crime effectively.
The commissioner said this while welcoming 61 new police officers for deployment at various stations in the region last Friday.
In a statement obtained by New Era, he said the approved structure of the police in the region is for 2 992 police officers.
“Yet, we are currently 1 012 in the whole region operating at 27 police stations,” said Shivute, adding that about 1 980 police officers are needed to fill vacant positions.
The 61 constables were deployed to 16 police stations in the region last Friday. They comprise 20 females and 41 males. This after completing a six months’ basic police training course at the Ruben Danger Ashipala Police Training College in Ondangwa in the Oshana Region and Simon Mutumba Mutumba Police Training College, situated south-east of Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region.
The new police officers also underwent induction and orientation at the Otjozondjupa Regional Police Headquarters in Otjiwarongo for approximately five weeks until last Friday.
In January, the Minister of Safety and Security, Major-General (Rtd) Charles Namoloh, said the basic training should not be viewed as the end of career development in the police as police officers are expected to study further and gain more knowledge beyond the basic training.
Namoloh said this while addressing a police passing out parade of the Basic Police Training Intake One of 2015 for Ruben Danger Ashipala Police Training Centre at Oshakati.
Namoloh further tongue-lashed police officers who demand promotions when they do not perform or simply further their studies, maintaining that promotion is earned.
“Some of you are claiming that you have been in the force for so many years but you have not been promoted. You can sit in Grade 12 for six years but nobody will give you a certificate if you have not performed. It is the same in the [police] force.”
“Some of you are just seated in the office, finishing oxygen, and when you are not promoted you come to my office or write letters to the Office of the President and the Ombudsman. Who said you are going to be promoted?” Namoloh fumed.