OPUWO – Kunene governor Marius Sheya has called for concerted efforts to modernise and decentralise police services to better serve the public and reduce bureaucracy.

Sheya made the call during Monday’s stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Opuwo with the inspector general of the Namibian Police, Joseph Shikongo, held to reaffirm and strengthen the longstanding relationship with the community.

Central to the discussions were the community’s support for Namibia’s rule of law initiatives, as well as the completion of the ongoing construction of the regional police headquarters at Opuwo.

Sheya argued that the demand for police services is driven by both government policy decisions and communities in addition to requests to preserve law and order.

As a consequence, the modernisation and decentralisation of different services, such as car clearance and the issuing of arms licences, should be implemented at all police stations, as well as the installation of the internet and computers to allow the police to better serve the people.

“As we always talk about service delivery, as for somebody to stand up from Khorixas or Kamanjab to hike here or Oshakati for police clearance, whether for arms clearance, it is something the police, under the inspector’s reign, can accomplish,” he added.

Similarly, Sheya remarked he wants people to be able to readily utilise these services at every police station, as it will be meaningful to visit any police station and find a copy machine and a computer that can assist them with anything they require.

Furthermore, he requested that permanent roadblocks be built in the region’s hot spots for stock theft and poaching, as well as additional police stations in hard-to-reach areas to help curb crime and reduce overcrowding at some police stations.

The governor also commended the police work in the region, adding that Kunene police have been effective since he became governor, indicating a positive working relationship that extends beyond police services.

On his part, Shikongo assured that Sheya’s proposal would be given top priority since it is critical to modernise and decentralise police services, including the establishment of more police stations in the region.

He, too, feels more has to be done to allow the police to serve the public steadfastly as he called on all stakeholders to work together to assist the police carry out their missions. -Nampa