Namibia recorded fewer road accidents and reduced crime during the 2025/26 festive season, but the country was shaken by a series of violent killings. This was said by police supremo, Inspector General Joseph Shikongo, as he provided an overview of their festive season operations.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Shikongo said while official statistics are still being finalised, the overall festive season security operation was successful, especially compared to the previous year when road accidents surged during November and December.
The festive season campaign was launched in November 2025 and is expected to conclude this month.
“It is still early to release final figures because operations are continuing as people return from holiday destinations. But what we can already reflect is that the situation from January up to date is much better compared to the previous year,” Shikongo said.
He attributed the improvement to the widespread and robust deployment of law enforcement officers across the country, including increased road patrols and crime prevention operations.
“We deployed officers throughout the country. There were more patrols, especially on the roads, and this helped to reduce accidents when people were travelling and returning home,” he said. According to Shikongo, reports of common crimes such as robberies were also lower during the festive period, with police receiving fewer complaints than usual. However, Shikongo confirmed that police registered 11 murder cases between November and 9 January.
“These were terrible and disturbing incidents. But I want to assure the public that all the people who committed these crimes have been arrested. They are behind bars, they have appeared in court, and their cases are before the courts,” he said. Among the most disturbing cases was the killing of a 26-year-old woman and a two-year-old child, allegedly by a 13-year-old boy from Gobabis.
He appeared in the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court, charged with a case that has shocked the community.
Due of the seriousness of the crime, the juvenile suspect was remanded in custody despite being under the age of criminal majority.
Another case involved the killing of a headman and an assistant headman and injured the executive director of the National Planning Commission.In a separate incident, a grandson allegedly hacked his elderly grandparents, aged 67 and 70, to death. The suspect in that case has also been arrested.Shikongo said it is still too early for police to draw firm conclusions about the causes of these killings, as investigations are ongoing and some cases have been referred back by courts for further inquiries.
“We cannot conclude at this stage. Some cases involve examinations into the mental state of suspects. These matters are sensitive and must be handled carefully through proper investigations,” he said.
Despite the tragic loss of life, Shikongo stressed that police response and arrest rates during the festive season demonstrate the effectiveness of law enforcement operations.
“And what I wanted to assure the public is that although we have lost lives, those who have perpetrated such crimes are all behind bars. They are all arrested. They appear before the court, and their cases are on a court throne. I think that’s very significant,” he said.
Shikongo also urged the public to continue cooperating with police and to report suspicious behaviour, particularly as investigations into serious crimes continue.
“We need communities to work with us. Crime prevention is not only the responsibility of the police, but of everyone,” he said.
