Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo has thanked Namibians for the manner in which they conducted themselves during the mourning of Founding President Sam Nujoma.

Shikongo particularly thanked Namibians for ensuring a smooth and dignified send-off for Nujoma, who died on 08 February 2025.

According to Shikongo, police officers were deployed across the regions to ensure safety and security. Nujoma’s body was taken to seven regions of Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Erongo and ||Kharas, before it was flown to Windhoek in the Khomas region for burial at the Heroes Acre.

In all the regions, Nujoma’s body was transported in a military procession and lay in state in all regions under the guard of the Namibian Defence Force to allow Namibians to pay their last respects.

“I should thus thank Namibians, from the bottom of my heart, for the manner in which they conducted themselves in ensuring we give our founding father a dignified send-off. We had no issues. Thank you, Namibians, let us continue doing this in events of this nature or any other event. Let us make sure our international dignitaries confirm Namibia as a country of order and peace,” Shikongo said.

He spoke to Nampa on Saturday, shortly before the commencement of Nujoma’s the funeral service at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek.

Shikongo said the police also did not encounter any issues related to crime, during the procession of Nujoma’s body from Windhoek to other regions.

“The process started on 20 February 2025 from the Hosea Kutako International Airport. I attended the arrival at Ondangwa and we proceeded to Okahao. The events went very well,” he noted.

The low crime rate during the mourning period, he stressed, is attributed to Namibians’ patriotism in ensuring that Nujoma’s mourning period was respected.

-Nampa