2008-06-10Staff Report 2 "By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK Namibia Defence Force members should be deployed to constantly patrol the capital. This was one of the suggestions made by several tertiary institutions last Thursday, to help curb the spiralling crime rate in the country. This and other recommendations were made at a consultative meeting between representatives of the Windhoek City Police and the Namibian Police and the recently established Student Representative Council Forum, consisting of the Polytechnic of Namibia, Unam, IUM and the Windhoek College of Education. ""Since the beginning of the year a number of students have been mugged and robbed of cellphones, money, laptops, clothing and even food by thugs loitering around campuses. Some students have been seriously assaulted with bricks in these cowardly attacks,"" said Paulus Hawanga, the SRC president of the Polytechnic of Namibia. According to him, three students have also been killed. ""It is high time to show the nation how students are suffering in the capital, supposed to have a high security surveillance, something the whole capital suffers from. It is no longer safe for any student returning home after 18h00 because students are risking their lives to reach home or simply to buy simple needs from shops. ""We urge the Ministry of Safety and Security and the City of Windhoek to do something to stop these evil practices,"" he said. The Student Representative Council Forum also urged the National Youth Council to establish a youth force to help fight crime. They asked the Namibian Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA) to discipline its members from assisting criminals in these cases, and that the authorities launch campaigns against crime and advise people on how to defend themselves against criminals. ""The high alcohol consumption on the streets contributes significantly to the growing crime rate. Shebeens should not be allowed to sell alcohol to minors and should such minors be found in these drinking places, the owners should be dealt with according to the law,"" Hawanga said. " 2008-06-10Staff Report 2
