The police in the Otjozondjupa region face an uphill battle in their crime prevention efforts in Tsumkwe due to language barriers between law- enforcement officers and the local San community.
Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo made these revelations in an interview with New Era yesterday following public engagements with the Tsumkwe community, where he observed from ground level the various common crimes committed in that area, as well as challenges.
There, he established that communication challenges make it difficult to enforce the law, investigate cases and build trust with residents in remote areas.
“One of the areas that we have identified is the language barrier, particularly the languages spoken by the San community. As the Namibian Police Force, we are looking into recruiting young men and women from the San community so that, once trained, they can assist their people,” he stated.
Recruitment
The police recently recruited 1 060 officers, while a further 1 700 are currently in training.
The next intake of 2 000 recruits is expected to begin in July 2025.
Shikongo urged traditional leaders in Tsumkwe to submit names of qualified young San individuals, and cautioned against favouritism in the selection process.
“The traditional authorities must ensure that they identify individuals from across the San community, and not just their family members,” he stressed.
“Those selected should at least have grade 10, and be able to communicate in an official language because we need them to be effective in their duties”, he added.
While this initiative aims to strengthen policing in Tsumkwe, previous efforts to integrate San officers into the police force have proven futile.
“We had 30 recruits at the time, but today, only two inspectors from the San community remain in the Force. The rest went back to their communities after they initiated resignations,” Shikongo stated.
Crime
Beyond the language barrier, he noted that Tsumkwe faces multiple crime-related challenges, including high rates of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), violations of the Liquor Act, stock theft, as well as theft of solar panels and water pumps.
To address these concerns, the police are working on strengthening community policing forums to enhance collaboration between law-enforcement and residents.
Pensioners
Another issue raised during the engagement was the financial exploitation of elderly pensioners, who reportedly fall into debt traps set by business owners in Tsumkwe.
Some elderly individuals have their national documents confiscated by businesspeople as collateral.
However, Shikongo made it clear that this matter does not fall within the police’s jurisdiction.
“If pensioners are being exploited, it is not a police matter. There is a particular ministry responsible for pension payments. They are the ones who should intervene. Our role is only to advise the elderly to take care of their money and avoid falling into debt,” he clarified.
He pointed out that business owners operate to make money. They can thus not be blamed for lending to individuals who willingly buy on credit.
“It is now up to the elderly individuals and their families to make sure they manage their finances wisely.
We cannot arrest those who take national documents as collateral because these are private agreements. Such matters should be handled legally by the relevant authorities,” Shikongo added.
Interventions
While the police continue efforts to improve crime prevention in Tsumkwe, the top cop remains optimistic that recruiting more San officers will enhance law-enforcement effectiveness in the area.
“Our goal is to strengthen the police presence, and improve communication between officers and the community. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in Namibia, including the San community, has access to proper law- enforcement services,” he said.
Councillor
Tsumkwe constituency councillor Johannes Hausiku acknowledged the difficulties in policing within the constituency, particularly due to language barriers faced by officers.
He noted that officers who do not speak the local San languages often struggle to communicate effectively with the community, leading to misunderstandings and hampering law- enforcement efforts.
“The language barrier remains a significant challenge in ensuring proper policing in Tsumkwe. Officers who can communicate in the local languages will be better-equipped to address community concerns and enforce the law effectively,” said Hausiku.
The councillor thus called for a more inclusive recruitment process that prioritises linguistic and cultural understanding.
“In most cases, it is the traditional authority entrusted with the responsibility. But most of the time, those who will be selected there always come back to the community. I think it is time that our office is also included in the process,” he suggested.
-ljason@nepc.com.na
Photo: Loide Jason