OKALONGO – The Minister of Safety Security Immanuel Ngatjizeko officially opened a police station and other police facilities this week at Onandjaba in Okalongo Constituency.
The facilities, which were constructed at a cost of about N$38 million, consist of police barracks, two houses, a mortuary, a petrol pump station and police cells, among others.
According to Ngatjizeko, a total of 38 Nampol facilities consisting of police stations and accommodation units were and will continue to be built and inaugurated across the country during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 financial years.
Ngatjizeko said the inauguration of such facilities is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to take services closer to the people.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Sebastian Haitota Ndeitunga who was also present at the inauguration ceremony reminded police officers to always keep in mind that they are servants of the nation.
Ndeitunga urged police officers to be dedicated to their work and to serve the nation with dignity and respect. He said police work should be carried out without fear or favour.
Chief of the Ombandja Traditional Authority, Mathias Walaula, expressed his gratitude to the government for constructing modern police facilities in Okalongo. According to Walaula, police work at Onandjaba have been conducted from a caravan since 1990.
Walaula also praised police officers in his area “for not giving up” despite the hardships they endured over the past two decades.
“You slept in tents but you continued to perform your duties to the best of your ability. You stayed patient and you never gave up, despite the hot sun and the rain,” said Walaula.
The event was attended by senior police officers, traditional and community leaders, regional councillors, regional commanders of Ohangwena and Omusati regions, senior officers from the Namibian Defence Force, officials of the Angolan police and hundreds of people from the community.
By Helvy Shaanika