Omaheke besieged by drugs: Ueitele

GOBABIS, 27 Apr – Omaheke Regional Governor, Festus Ueitele has bemoaned the pervasiveness of drugs in the region, noting that the presence of such dependency-inducing substances poses a danger to the region.
Delivering his State of the Region Address here on Wednesday, Ueitele said the Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno border post is being used to smuggle drugs into Namibia.
He warned those engaged in such practises to stop henceforth or face the full wrath of the law.
The regional governor, who gave an update of criminal activities and police operations against combating such crimes, said theft, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, stock theft and housebreaking were – in that order – the most frequent crimes during the period under review.
He said a total of 20 murder cases, four armed robberies, two robberies and four fraud cases were amongst the crimes committed during the 2017/18 financial year in Omaheke.
Ueitele noted that these figures however reflect a reduction in most of these cases in relation to the previous financial year.
“The reduction in cases is attributed to vigorous policing activities; police visibility, foot and vehicle patrols and crime awareness campaigns as well partnership with the policing community forums such as Neighbourhood Watch [and] Farmers Association to mention but a few,” he said.
On gender-based violence (GBV), Ueitele said rape was the most prevalent form reported during the period under review, while assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm amongst spouses or partners was also another frequently reported crime.
“Drug and alcohol abuse, financial dependency, poverty and ignorance are some of the contributing factors to GBV,” Ueitele said.
The governor was concerned about the high rate at which workers, often without citizenship documents, are brought into the region by farmers who mainly use them as cheap labourers to care for their livestock.
Farmers in the charcoal producing industry were also at the receiving end of the governor’s wrath, as he noted that such labourers end up committing heinous crimes in the region.
Ueitele was however generally satisfied with the effectiveness of the police in solving criminal cases in the region.
“Despite many challenges, and with limited recourses, the regional commander, regional management staff and members in partnership with law abiding citizens of this region are determined to fight and combat crime,” he said.
(NAMPA)