Staff Reporter
THE Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) and four farmers’ unions have signed a 10-year memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in preventing and reducing crimes affecting farmers, particularly stock theft.
The agreement, signed at Police National Headquarters, brings together the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers’ Union (NECFU), Namibia National Farmers’ Union (NNFU) and Previously Disadvantaged Namibians’ Farmers’ Union (PDNFU) in a joint effort to improve rural safety.
The memorandum establishes a framework for collaboration between law enforcement and the farming sector, with participating organisations committing to specific roles and responsibilities in implementing stock theft prevention measures and addressing other rural crimes.
Acting Inspector General of Police Major General Anne-Marie Nainda said the agreement builds on previous cooperation between NAMPOL and the NAU, which began through a memorandum signed in March 2020.
She said the previous agreement laid a strong foundation for cooperation, including the implementation of the National Rural Safety Strategy and the creation of mechanisms to improve communication between farmers and the police.
Nainda said expanding the partnership to include NECFU, NNFU and PDNFU represents an important step towards creating an inclusive national approach to rural safety.
“The inclusion of NNFU, PDNFU and NECFU in the current MOU represents a significant step towards building a truly inclusive national partnership,” she said.
She highlighted stock theft, illegal grazing, poaching, vandalism of infrastructure and other crimes affecting agricultural production as ongoing challenges facing rural communities and the economy.
The agreement follows the establishment of the Joint Crime Prevention Forum in 2018 by the NAU and NECFU, which has played a role in strengthening cooperation between farmers and the police.
The forum has supported rural safety initiatives, provided advice on crime prevention and created a platform for dialogue between farming communities and law enforcement authorities.
The 10-year agreement is intended to enhance coordination and ensure that both commercial and communal farmers are represented in efforts to improve safety across Namibia’s agricultural sector.
Photo: Nampol
