Ohangwena police chief, Commissioner Elizabeth Mukete-Sibolile has refuted claims inmates at the Oshikango police station are only receiving one meal per day.
Mukete-Sibolile assured the public inmates were receiving three meals per day as required.
She said the inmates are using the starvation allegation as an excuse to attract attention to get food to the holding cells.
The regional commander said visitation to holding cells is banned during this time of Covid-19 and as a result, no items are coming to the cells, including food.
“Inmates use food to smuggle illegal items into the holding cells…there are food items which we cannot search and that is what they use,” said the commissioner.
Inmates at the Oshikango police holding cells had accused the police of starving them, providing them with only one meal of porridge and sauce daily at midday.
Sources, who chose to remain anonymous, said the practice has been ongoing since December last year.
The sources said the same meal is offered to inmates who have contracted Covid-19.
They further alleged there are currently two overcrowded cells where inmates are being isolated, while no provision has been made to supply them with hand sanitiser to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
“How does one protect themselves if the environment itself is filthy? It is inhumane to have one meal per day, even worse for those who are sick,” said the source.
The concerned individuals thus asked authorities to intervene to allow inmates to also have a balanced diet.
These people further charged that when they enquired about the lack of food to inmates, they were informed that the food has been ordered.
Mukete-Sibolile further disputed allegations that the Oshikango holding cells was filthy.
She said the Oshikango police is one of the cleanest police service stations that has modernised its services especially in terms of hygiene.
The police commander said, unlike other places, inmates at Oshikango do not even use buckets to wash their hands, but hands-free sanitising equipment.
– nashipala@nepc.com.na