WINDHOEK – The Namibian Correctional Service (NSC) signed eight Memorandums of Understanding with non-governmental organisations, who will help with reintegration programmes for offenders released on special conditions.
Correctional Service Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela said they have a strategy of promoting multi-focused rehabilitation services in order to attain the security sector’s desired outcome under NDP5, that states by the year 2022 Namibia must be safe, secure, peaceful and upholding the rule of law.
One of their main objectives is to align their efforts to provide different services to offenders who will be released with or without conditions to assist them in facilitating their effective reintegration into society.
This initiative started in December 2016 and thereon only held their first consultative workshop in June 2017, where they shared their commitments to contribute to the realisation of Vision 2030.
One of the organisations that are part of this partnership is Lifeline/Childline Namibia, which will offer training to correctional officers, offenders will have access to counselling services, the organisation will link them up with programmes they are involved in for e.g GBV issues. On their part, Women’s Action for Development (WAD) will offer programmes where offenders will be taught life skills, computer skills and educate them on how to open up their own businesses. WAD will also give reports to NSC as to how the offenders have fared after working with them.
The stakeholders include Lifeline/Childline Namibia, WAD, CHANGE, Uhili Necessity Wellness Trust, and Star Investment, just to mention a few.
Hamunyela informed their new partners that their conviction is that without the involvement of stakeholders, there will be no realisation of effective reintegration. “Hence our happiness for having you on board and confidence that together, we will realise our goals,” he ended.