2015-02-24Staff Report 2 TSUMEB - The women network department within the Tsumeb police held a peaceful march against gender-based violence and organised crimes over the weekend in Tsumeb. Close to 90 police officers and members from other welfare organisations and the municipality took to the streets to speak up against the increase of rape and murder in the ‘garden town’. The march was also aimed at creating awareness for the clean-up campaign where the police together with other stakeholders cleaned riverbeds and other parts of the town that create a safe haven for criminals. In recent months the rape and murder of the a school girl found in a riverbed shook the town of Tsumeb while, just two weeks ago, a case of baby dumping was reported. No suspects were arrested in both case. Representative of the police within the Women Network initiative, Frieda Shikeva, said the campaign was aimed at showing the community that the police care and condemn the violent crimes that have been rocking the town lately. “It is important that we work together as a community and from the side of the police we want to contribute in the fight against these violent crimes.We will clean all the areas that are safe havens for the criminals, this will be a step towards rooting out the crime.” She said most victims of rape and murder are women and thus the women network initiative within the Namibian Police saw it fit to contribute to the fight against crime. The clean up campaign was well attended by school children, women from the municipality the Dundee Precious Metals Smelter in Tsumeb as well as volunteers from other welfare organisations. The initiative will be rolled out to other towns within the Oshikoto region in coming months. 2015-02-24Staff Report 2
