Maria David
THE Ohangwena Region recorded a total of 4,907 criminal cases during the 2024/25 financial year, with domestic violence and assault being among the most prevalent.
This was revealed by Ohangwena Governor, Kadiva Hamutumwa, during her State of the Region Address (SORA) in Eenhana on Monday.
According to Hamutumwa, the 4,907 total cases reported include 235 domestic violence, 154 rape, 880 assault, 784 housebreaking/theft, and 231 stock theft.
“This is not just data points, but a call to urgent and coordinated intervention,” she said.
She added that, as a region, they should mobilise across sectors to boost policing presence—especially in rural zones—and protect survivors by expanding access to legal, medical, and psychosocial services.
Hamutumwa indicated that law enforcement still faces challenges hindering operations during the period under review.
“We still face challenges such as vehicle shortages, which remain a critical issue, as many patrol vehicles are frequently grounded for minor repairs or awaiting servicing, severely restricting operational readiness,” she said.
She indicated that the geographic conditions of Ohangwena, characterised by sandy and muddy terrain during the rainy season, require robust 4×4 vehicles.
Hamutumwa said that, unfortunately, some stations are equipped with inadequate 2×4 vehicles, leaving officers stranded when the weather worsens.
Further, on the border issue, she said that Angola remains porous, allowing unchecked movement of people, livestock, and control issues such as bush encroachment and unregulated animal grazing.
“Fuel smuggling syndicates exploit this no-man’s-land. Officers have repeatedly observed smugglers slipping into areas where neither Namibian nor Angolan jurisdiction prevails, hindering enforcement,” she said.
She noted that several newly constructed police stations lack proper accommodation; for example, facilities have been built without designated station commander residences or barracks, forcing personnel to endure unsustainable living conditions.
Moreover, she noted that the cell capacity in the police cells in Eenhana, Okongo, Ohangwena, Omungwelume, Oshikango, Ongha, and Endola is 320, but they were accommodating 739 inmates—almost double their capacity.
