Crimes in the Ohangwena region have increased by almost 40% compared to the previous year.
This year, the region’s police recorded 7 578 cases.
Of those, 1 445 are theft cases. Cases of assault and grievous bodily harm were 1 040, housebreaking (982), gender-based violence (432), rape (254), stock theft (268) and 27 murders.
This represents an increase of 38% in the crimes committed in the region.
These figures were given by the governor of Ohangwena Walde Ndevashiya during the state of the region address at Eenhana on Monday.
Ndevashiya said the crime rate is a huge concern.
In an effort to curb the high crime rate in the region, new police stations at Ongha and police barracks at Eenhana were completed during the period under review.
At the moment, the construction of a police station that has a charge office, cell block, male and female single quarters and married quarters at Endola is underway.
“Plans are underway to construct new police stations at Ondobe, Epembe, Omboloka, and Omulonga,” he added.
Meanwhile, the governor has also said, during the reporting period, 121 veterans were registered to receive the monthly subsidy of N$2 200, bringing the total number of veterans on this programme to 3 709.
According to Ndevashiya, 15 veterans were registered to receive the N$3 000 monthly improvement grant, bringing the total to 30 veterans on this programme.
“A total number of 90 veterans were registered to receive the N$4 000 monthly improvement grant, bringing the total to 1 085 veterans on this programme. While, a total number of 60 funeral assistance were granted to the deceased veterans to the tune of N$600 000,” he stressed.
In addition, a total number of 69 tombstones for the war veterans were erected to the value of N$1.1 million and 23 veterans received psychosocial counselling over the same period.
“During the same period, a total number of 101 individual veteran projects (IVPs) have been approved and funded at the cost of N$17.1 million. Due to their participation in the war of the liberation struggle, many veterans are suffering from post-war trauma (PTSD), exacerbated by socio-economic challenges,” he emphasised.
However, the region is still faced with the challenge of late birth registrations. The region continues to experience the challenge of stateless and undocumented people.
“Therefore, in order to prevent statelessness and to give all children in their care access to the various social safety nets that the government offers its citizens, I urge all parents and other caregivers to make a greater effort to see that every child in their care has obtained the necessary national documents on time,” he urged.
Concerned…. Walde Ndevashiya, the governor of Ohangwena region.
Photo: Contributed