Zebaldt Ngaruka
Okakarara – Epukiro The Okakarara Constituency Crime Prevention Association (OCCPA) held a workshop from Monday to today at Opamwe Youth Hall in Okakarara.
About 200 volunteers from the community crime prevention forum attended the
five-day workshop that was facilitated by the Namibian Police Force (NamPol).
In an interview with New Era, OCCPA chairperson Vezuva Aluteni said the workshop is aimed at equipping community police volunteers with skills to investigate crimes and gather evidence for prosecution purposes.
“Topics like the law on the movement of livestock, the operation of community-based livestock identification documents, and vehicle roadworthiness were discussed at the workshop,” said Aluteni. Apart from police volunteers, various other stakeholders also attended the workshop. Chief among them was veterinarian Dr Israel Kaatura, who made a presentation on DNA sampling for investigation, the process at auction pens, the correct use of ear tags, and the legality of adopted practices.
Kaatura also enlightened the attendees on how to foster the best mutually-beneficial working relationship with the directorate of veterinary services. The Kambazembi Royal Traditional Authority made a presentation on how the community policing forums can work with the traditional authority and community courts. However, the traditional authority recently called for cancellation of the workshop, accusing the OCCPA of interfering in its affairs.
There was also a presentation from legal practitioners who touched on how community police members can best protect themselves while performing their duties.
A 20-member delegation from the Community Against Stock-theft Organisation (CASO) from Omaheke region also attended the workshop. “We have also invited the Ovitoto Community Policing Forum, and our aim is to engage and collaborate with other community policing bodies in the country to help Nampol curb the alarming rate of stock-theft and other crimes in the country,” said the chairperson.
Asked what led to the formation of a community policing group in the area, he said the Okakarara constituency has seen a sharp rise in crimes over the past years, with stocktheft cases topping the list.
“We have recorded more than 270 cases between March 2022 and January 2024.
Stock-theft cases are increasing on a daily basis, and households have been subject to criminal activity. The most vulnerable have been affected; houses are broken into, and cases of rape, among others, have been reported in our settlement,” said Aluteni.
He added that the community has lost faith in NamPol, and does not see the need to report their cases to the police.
Instead, the community turns to community policing forums for assistance.
“Our inhabitants have been complaining for long about the way the police respond to crime reports from the community. Police officers are accused of collaborating with criminals to derail investigations, destroy crucial evidence, and have failed to solve cases,” added Aluteni. At times dockets get lost, and criminals or offenders are repeatedly released on bail, only for them to commit more crimes.
“The police officers in our constituency are compromised. We demanded they be redeployed somewhere else, but our plea was not considered,” he said. The OCCPA chairperson highlighted funding as the main challenge, as the government does not finance community policing. “Without funds, we cannot achieve our goals, and the community will be more at risk. We must put measures in place to solicit funds for our forums,” continued Aluteni. Established in 2021, OCCPA aims to maintain a strong community policing partnership to keep residents safe, and eliminate the fear of crime within society.
-zngaruka@yahoo.com