Katima Mulilo
Poaching in Bwabwata, Mundumo and Nkasa Rupara national parks in the Zambezi Region has been reduced, Deputy Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Major-General James Tjivikua says.
Tjivikua visited the Zambezi Region on Monday to review the successes achieved in the region during the 13th phase of Operation Elephant Tusk, as well as oversee the handing over of the operation from the Zambezi Regional Police Commander, Boniface Mukendwa, to the Kavango East Regional Police Commander, Johanna Ngondo, who will lead the 14th phase.
During a media briefing at Katima Mulilo, Tjivikua applauded the 13th phase for a job well done. During the period under review from December last year to date, 10 poachers were arrested.
In addition about 26 elephant tusks were recovered. Seven elephants were found to have been poached and four firearms seized. An impala, a buffalo and a sable were also poached.
Tjivikua said that the anti-poaching unit will continue with stiff operations and ensure that all illegal poachers are brought to book. He called on the public to guard and conserve wildlife and report any poaching activities.
“I will also like to inform the public once again that there’s a reward of N$60 000 for any reliable information leading to the arrest of a suspect in poaching. The public is therefore urged to come forward with the much needed information,” encouraged Tjivikua.
Tjivikua and the delegation proceeded to Cheeto police base some 200 kilometres west of Katima Mulilo, where the handing over of the 13th phase of the operation was done, which will come to an end on Friday.
The 14th phase will begin on Saturday and end in June.
While receiving a file containing all the operational activities done in the 13th phase, the Kavango East Police Regional Commander and incoming Gold Commander of the Operation Elephant Tusk, Johanna Ngondo, promised that as the motto for the phase states she “will stop at nothing until poachers are handcuffed”.
Operation Elephant Tusk was launched in 2013 as a joint operation between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Police Department in the Ministry of Safety and Security.