ONGWEDIVA – Oshakati police officers were left disappointed after only two villagers from Engobe village in the Uuvudhiya constituency showed up for outreach at the councillor’s office.
The police drove out to the village to render services, such as declarations, certifications of copies of documents and opening of cases.
Regional operation detective Lavinia Shilongo maintained that the villagers are sometimes intimidated by the police and hence refuse to attend anything that has to do with the police.
“We came to bring police services closer to them due to the long distances they travel to the nearest police station, which is in Oshakati, and also to cut on transport expenses,” said Shilongo.
While waiting at the outreach point, Shilongo decided to go look for the villagers at the cuca shops, and she found them there, drinking tombo.
Shilongo urged the villagers to show up at the next outreach point, as the police are only there to help with anything that requires the law.
“In order to prevent and lessen crime, we should please open cases against the criminals. Feel free to talk to us because we are here to help and protect you,” she urged the villagers.
Crime prevention officer Abraham Junias maintained that the villagers should not feel neglected by the police, and that is why they travel to their place of residence to offer services.
“They pay N$220 in total just to go to Oshakati and come back – and mind you, this is too much for one person to spend on transport; they do not have any kind of employment,” said Junias.
Junias urged community members from various villagers to attend police gatherings in numbers, as it is to their own benefit.
“We did announce that we are coming to visit them on the radio, so we totally do not understand as to why they failed to show up in numbers,” said Junias.