ONGWEDIVA – Namibian Police chief Joseph Shikongo said officers should differentiate between wants and needs to avoid spending their salaries on unnecessary things. 

He stressed that police officers do not have peace of mind at the workplace because they are stressed about cash loan deductions appearing on their pay slips, while others lose money at gambling machines. 

He made these remarks last week during an official address to police officers in the Oshana region at Ongwediva. 

The meeting was aimed to motivate officers on work-related matters, and to share relevant information on how they should ensure good service to the public. 

Meanwhile, Shikongo last week also held a community engagement session at Oshakati, where he recognised the community as a strong pillar in the fight against crime. 

He highlighted the significance of their involvement in solving and preventing crimes, which will create an enabling environment for investments that will trigger great benefits for the country and its people. 

He added that the engagement session serves as a valuable platform for community members to voice their concerns, and contribute to the collective effort to maintain public safety. 

In his statement, Shikongo expressed concern over police officers who are writing letters to his office and demanding promotions. 

“Promotion is given to people who deserve it, not to everyone. Some officers get angry after others have been promoted; while some try to approach traditional doctors for luck to be promoted,” he noted. 

He added that some officers normally complain about having served in Nampol for far too long while no promotion is awarded to them, and claiming that only people who joined after them get promotions. 

“I do not appoint someone to be promoted. However, promotions come with a recommendation from the regional commanders or police station commanders,” he elucidated. 

In the same vein, Shikongo expressed disappointment with those officers who don’t pick up their phones when they are called by the public to attend to crime scenes. 

“Stop telling people that you are not on duty. As a police officer, you should work 24 hours because you are assigned to protect people,” he urged. 

Shikongo said police officers must be accessible at all times, and not turn members of the public away when they seek police service. 

“We should always be friendly and courteous to people to ensure unity in terms of fighting crimes,” he reiterated. 

- fhamalwa@nepc.com.na