Staff Reporter
THE Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) is hosting a delegation from the Botswana Prison Service (BPS) on a benchmarking visit focused on offender rehabilitation, health services and correctional management strategies aimed at strengthening cooperation and institutional learning between the two countries.
The five-day visit, taking place from 15 to 19 June 2026, focuses on the Offender Risk Management Correctional Strategy (ORMCS), rehabilitation programmes and health services implemented by the NCS.
Speaking on behalf of Commissioner-General Raphael Tuhafeni Hamunyela, Deputy Commissioner-General Sam Shaalulange said the engagement reflects the strong cooperation and longstanding relationship between the two correctional services.
Photos: Namibian Correctional Service
The Botswana delegation is led by Senior Assistant Commissioner Dr Lebapotswe Tlale and includes Senior Superintendent Farouk Motsomi and Assistant Superintendent Michael Morekisi.
Dr Tlale, who serves as Director of Prison Health Services in Botswana, said the benchmarking exercise is important for strengthening correctional services within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and offers Botswana an opportunity to learn from reforms and transformation initiatives implemented by the NCS.
As part of the programme, the delegation visited the Windhoek Female Correctional Facility and the Windhoek Correctional Facility on Tuesday to observe rehabilitation and vocational training initiatives.
The delegates toured various sections of the facilities, including rehabilitation programme areas, medium-security sections, metalworks and fabrication workshops, motor mechanics and spray-painting units, upholstery, woodwork, fashion and fabrics training centres, as well as health facilities.
Officer-in-Charge of the Windhoek Female Correctional Facility, Assistant Commissioner Julia Nauvinga, welcomed the opportunity to showcase the institution’s rehabilitation programmes, while Windhoek Correctional Facility Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Commissioner Oscar Numwa, emphasised the value of sharing knowledge and experiences in offender rehabilitation.
During their stay, the delegation is also expected to visit the Evaristus Shikongo Correctional Facility in Tsumeb to gain further insight into rehabilitation and correctional programmes implemented by the NCS.
The visit forms part of resolutions adopted during the second session of the Namibia–Botswana Bi-National Commission held in Windhoek in October 2025, which called for closer cooperation between the two correctional services on matters relating to offender management, rehabilitation and health services.
The NCS said the visit underscores the continued commitment of Namibia and Botswana to regional cooperation, knowledge-sharing and the strengthening of correctional services within the SADC region.
