Communities and police must join hands to fight crime - Shikongo

Namibian Police Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo has urged communities in the Oshana Region to join forces with the police to combat crime.

Shikongo emphasised that without teamwork, crime will continue to frustrate residents in the Oshana Region.

He made these remarks on Friday at the official opening of the newly built Onawa Police Station, which was inaugurated by Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

Shikongo said policing is and should be a collective and shared responsibility, which requires the involvement of both the community and the police. He said community policing reinforces the efficiency of law enforcement efforts and builds trust.

"By getting involved, communities will ensure that they protect their lives and properties through shared strategies to address issues,” he said.

Work together

Shikongo urged residents to create and join community policing forums such as neighbourhood watches, Youth Against Crime, and the Women and Men Network, as well as other available platforms.

“If we are not uniting and joining the police, we are not going to succeed. They need your help because these people come from our communities,” he said.

Shikongo emphasised that crimes are not confined to specific areas or communities and impact everyone in one way or another.

Meanwhile, during the opening of the new station, Vice-President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the station represents the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of communities.

She added that it is for this reason that the safety and security ministry, through the Namibian Police, responded positively to the people's call and decided to establish a police station at Onawa.