The police in Kunene reported 2 683 criminal cases in 2024, ranging from murder, rape, stock theft, domestic violence and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Other cases include stock theft, housebreaking, theft and drug-related crimes.
The police attribute the increasing crime levels to poverty and alcohol abuse.
A report by the Economic Commission for Africa and the National Planning Commission recently revealed that the poverty headcount in Namibia has more than doubled from 410 518 to 852 317 people last year.
In 2023, the region recorded 1 758 criminal cases.
The police revealed that 38% of those cases are reported at Outjo, followed by Opuwo at 20%, 17% in Khorixas and Kamanjab at 9%.
“The contributing factors to crime in the region are poverty, unemployment, drugs and alcohol abuse. Outjo is regarded as the hotspot in the region, as the highest percentage of 38% was recorded, followed by Opuwo, Khorixas and Kamanjab,” said deputy commissioner Eric Clay, Kunene’s head of crime investigations.
He hastened to say that crime levels in Kunene are relatively lower when juxtaposed to other regions.
“Lately, we have water pumps that are being stolen. We are trying to prevent it. We have boots on the ground. There are successes we have achieved through individuals whom we have arrested for stock theft,” Clay said.
Between 2016 and 2023, the police in the Kunene region recorded 11 936 criminal cases across all 16 stations.
The region has around 120 000 inhabitants, while its landmass is 115 293 square kilometres.
What is apparent as revealed by statistics reviewed by New Era is that Outjo is a hotspot for criminals.
At least 40% of the total regional crimes are committed in and around the town.
Back in 2023, Outjo reigned supreme, recording 891 cases.
They were followed by Opuwo (488) and Khorixas (380).
The most concerning crimes are assault, GBH, stock theft, housebreaking, theft and drugs.
Another cause of concern is poaching of endangered species at the Etosha National Park.
“The region is infiltrated by illegal immigrants who came into the country through ungazetted crossing points to seek employment. Some are employed as cheap labour as cattle herders and charcoal workers. Others have resorted to committing crimes of drug smuggling, stock theft and theft of water pumps.
“We have reinforced the boots on the ground. We are trying to prevent the crossing,” Clay added.
Over the years, the police have generally lamented poor manpower.
Kunene is not an exception.
“Police are also faced with challenges of shortage of manpower and lack of transport. We want to thank the Office of the Inspector General for allocating some cars to the region. We are trying our best with the limited resources,” he said.
Furthermore, poor road infrastructure and network connectivity are among other challenges hampering police efforts to combat crime.
“We currently have students who are on the work-integrated learning programme. They are assisting a lot on the ground,” Clay remarked.
The police appealed to people in the region to join forces with the police by joining police reservists, police informants, men and women networks as well as neighbourhood watches to combat crime.
“I want to use this opportunity to commend and thank our partners in fighting criminality in our region, such as the police reservists, traditional authorities, neighbourhood watch groups, farmers associations and law-abiding citizens, who provide us with information in fighting crimes.
“Despite the challenges we are facing, the members are committed on the ground. With the stakeholders on board, we will strive to reduce crime in the region,” he said.
Numbers
In 2016, 1 573 criminal cases were registered by the police in the region.
The following year, the figure reduced to 1 516, while 1 503 cases were reported in 2018.
Meanwhile, 2019 saw a sharp decrease after only 1 205 cases were reported to the police.
The figure saw a 73% increase in 2020, as the police recorded 2 095 cases. Additionally, 2 274 criminal cases were opened in 2021, while 2 399 were recorded in 2022.
Zeroing in 2022, 243 assault cases were recorded.
Additionally, 271 cases of housebreaking and theft were opened, while 261 cases of theft and 254 cases of stock theft were opened.
There were 10 cases of murder, 103 of domestic violence, drug possession (99), and 26 inquests (unnatural deaths).