Windhoek
About 64 percent of various positions in the Namibian Correctional Services (NCS) are unfilled because of a shortage of finance, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Namoloh was informed last week during a familiarisation tour of Windhoek prison.
Briefing Namoloh on activities of the NCS last week, Deputy Commissioner General Raphael Hamunyela said there are currently 4 321 positions in his directorate that remain unfilled and this purely due to lack of finances.
“We a have a total of 4 209 correctional officer and 112 staff member positions that are unfilled since 2014,” Hamunyela said, adding that filling these posts depends on the availability of funds.
He said that last year in October the directorate recruited a total of 325 correctional officers, while medical officers, three senior registered nurses, nine registered nurses, 12 enrolled nurses and 18 maintenance officers were appointed in the NCS with effect from March 1 2015.
Among key positions that are vacant at the NCS, Hamunyela said, are those for medical officers, registered nurses, counsellers, clinical psychologists, case management officers, education officers, vocational trainers, religious care officers, occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists and psychiatric nurses.
On his part, Namoloh advised prison officials to practise team work and responsibility in their jobs.
“You should work hard, work sincerely and be committed in your duties to produce good quality work,” he urged,
He also called on prison officials always to update their skills and knowledge.
Speaking to New Era on the sidelines, Namoloh said he was highly impressed by the high quality of educational programmes and the positive attitude of the prisoners during his familiarisation visit at Windhoek prison.
Namoloh who was accompanied by prison wardens during his tour through the correctional services facility said he had talked with prisoners and wardens about their experiences at the prison.
“When we are outside we have an impression of prison being a place for those who are condemned but what I have seen today is very impressive and indeed exciting,” said the minister.
“The manner in which they handle newly-sentenced inmates and those who are about to be sent home after having served their sentences is impressive,” he added.
He commended prison warden for their hard work in making sure that when prisoners leave prison they can contribute to the community.
“What I will do now is to find resources to build more classes for more students,” he said.
“What I have seen today is that prisoners have passion for what they are doing and what we need to do is support them,” he added.
The Windhoek prison offers a variety of programmes to inmates remanded or sentenced in correctional facilities.
According to Commissioner Anna Beukes the programmes are designed to assist offenders to correct or change their behaviour related to their offence in order to hold them responsible for their behaviour and promote public safety.
“The main types of programming intended to affect positive inmate and offender change involve life skills programmes and rehabilitative programmes to address issues such as substance abuse, anger management, education, literacy and work,” she explained.