BY Cathy Godfrey
KATIMA MULILO June 15 – Crime in Zambezi is controllable as a result of intensified crime prevention operations, community awareness and investigations, regional governor, Lawrence Sampofu, said in his recent state of the region address.
Statistics showed that in 2021/22 the crime rate was slightly lower as recorded cases dropped from 5 424 in 2020/21 to 3 843 in 2021/22.
However, crimes such as housebreaking and theft, murder, rape, domestic violence and theft of all types are among the top 10 most prevalent crimes, he said.
Residents of the Cowboy location where crimes of this nature have become a daily occurrence found this quite devastating.
Mwaka * (not her real name) said she lives in fear for her life because she does not know when she will be the unlucky victim. She has witnessed several people being stabbed to death or just being robbed. Just last night she heard one guy talking about how he feels like breaking into someone’s house. She was terrified not knowing whose house this intruder was about to break into.
“I only sleep from 20h00 till midnight when the clubs have closed. I am awake just anticipating they are about to break into my home,” she said.
Another resident mentioned that it had become a little bit better since October, compared to last year, because then they were not allowed to be outside their homes from 19h00. Especially for those that lived close to the road because they (the intruders) did not want ‘liars’, who were going to report to the police what they witnessed when they robbed someone.
She added that the group of criminals are not just the people who are residents of Cowboy location but rather come from everywhere around the country and neighbouring countries. They come and find an abandoned property and live in it.
She called on the government, and other capable organisations, to help get these kids off the streets by making projects available that they could engage in.
She feels most of those that commit the crimes have either failed in high school or lack employment after completing varsity, while the under-age ones are recruited into these gangs.
Michael * (not his real name), who was recently attacked and stabbed in the head leaving him bleeding profusely, was attacked by a 15-year-old who was released into his guardian’s care after being apprehended. He feels the minors will continuously commit these crimes because they know they always get out. He called on the government to look into the laws that could help deter them from committing such crimes.
Spokesperson Inspector, Kisco Sitali, said in cases where minors are involved, it is because of a lack of supervision from parents and caregivers and he encourages parents to be vigilant around their children.
Further, he said they have intensified their police patrols day and night. He, however, encouraged community members to help fight this crime together by reporting the perpetrators. – Namibia Daily News
