Staff Reporter
AN historic appeal was made by the Namibian police to farmers and residents of the Otjimbingwe village and surrounding farming areas to, unlike on previous occasions, not turn up drunk for meetings to address serious issues like crimes.
The Otjimbingwe, Wilhelmstal, Karibib and Omararuru areas acquired a reputation since Independence for rampant stock theft, poaching and violent crimes where the use of firearms by criminals and other violence is the order of the day and on the increase of late.
The Erongo Police are again inviting the farmers and community members to a meeting tomorrow morning at 10:00 in the Otjimbingwe Community Hall to discuss ways to improve public safety and crime prevention, particularly with regard to robberies and stock theft incidents, which are quite prevalent in the area.
According to the police, it is essentially intended to provide a platform for collaboration between the police and community members.
Despite the early morning hour, the organisers appeal to those who are going to attend the meeting to show up sober and open to having, and facilitating, constructive dialogue.
According to Inspector Ileni Shapumba of the Erongo Police, some people have previously attended these meetings while intoxicated, which resulted in them sharing bad advice and disrupting the meeting.
He added that some community members with influence, such as community leaders, have also disrupted these meetings in the past as they verbally attacked police staff, instead of sharing beneficial advice.
He explained that these disruptions hindered constructive dialogue, which in turn hinder crime prevention initiatives.
Shapumba also shared that the police are making strides in arresting suspected robbery and stock theft perpetrators.
However, according to him, these crimes are still becoming increasingly prevalent in areas such as Otjimbingwe, Omaruru and Usakos.
In many of these cases, people are also threatened with weapons.
He reassured the public that the police are determined to find ways to curtail these crimes. It is for this reason, he said, that collaboration between the police and community members is imperative.
