Maria David
HEAD of law enforcement in the Ohangwena Region, Commissioner Elizabeth Sibolile, has called on the Namibian and Angolan governments to establish at least four new points of entry to minimize illegal border crossing.
Sibolile, who made the request whilst addressing a meeting, held at Billy Mwaningange Rural Development Centre at Eembaxu during the visit by Cunene Province Governor of Angola on Tuesday, saying having only one gazetted point of entry makes it difficult to control criminal activities.
She stated that despite crime being manageable in the region, law enforcement agencies are unable to control illegal activities at the border due to illegal border crossing by citizens of both countries.
“The closure of the border due to COVID-19 has also fuelled crime activities in the region,” she said.
Moreover, Sibolile indicated that the region experiences influx of Angolan nationals seeking employment opportunities and other basic human needs at the same time commit crimes.
“Prevalent cross border crimes are theft of motor vehicles, drugs with narcotic effect, stock theft, traffic in persons, and fuel smuggling,” she said.
So far, Sibolile noted that the law enforcement in the region recovered 9 vehicles in Angola stolen in Ohangwena since 2019. Four vehicles stolen in Angola were also recovered in Ohangwena this year.
The region has a record of 64 Angolan nationals in police custody awaiting trial at 5 police stations.
“Those in custody are facing cases such as murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, rape, common assault, stock theft, and smuggling of illicit goods,” she cited.
She pointed out that they are faced with challenges of borders being vast and porous, used as a public road, encroached by bushes, and difficult in tracing of victim parents or guardians.
Sibolile then recommended the two governments to come up with border clearance and re-demarcate the borderline according to international standards.
