Operation HoKaNam unleashed
Deputy police chief Major General Oscar Embumbulu has urged citizens to join hands with the law enforcement officers in the quest to make Namibia a safe place to live in, free from crime and road accidents.
Embumbulu made these remarks during the official launch of the HoKaNam operation at Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College yesterday.
“As a free country, people should live and move freely without any fear of crime and full of confidence in security institutions. Therefore, law enforcement should continue to create a safe environment for all,” said Embumbulu.
He said that the operation will focus on crime prevention, crime combating, road accident prevention and road safety maintenance, as well as Covid-19 prevention.
Embumbulu added the operation will be conducting robust and visible beat patrols in towns, suburbs, streets, highways and localities, with the view to prevent and combat crimes, protect human lives and properties.
On the Covid-19 prevention strategy, he said the security cluster should make sure people strictly adhere to the health and environmental activities, regulations and protocols as stipulated because the rising cases are now a concern.
“We need to be responsible citizens to curb the further spread of the virus. We need to protect ourselves, the community and the nation at large at all times,” he cautioned.
On gender-based violence, he urged the officers to make sure their visibility throughout the day and nights are felt everywhere countrywide.
“Let us go out there in full force to deny the criminals any opportunity of committing criminal activities. We should make sure we keep Namibia ever safe and secure from evil activities,” he said.
He further assured the nation that the police have a new strategy to curb road accidents, which is to deploy as many traffic officers as possible along the national roads, who will be equipped with the modern edition of breathalysers to test those that are driving under the influence of alcohol.
“This is to enhance safety and security on the roads – and overall, to make Namibia a free road accident country. So, let us refrain from bad driving, speeding, driving vehicles that are not roadworthy, overloading and drinking while under the influence of alcohol,” he stated.
The major general said that all members who will take part in the operation should undergo a thorough induction on their conduct, roles and rules of engagement and should be briefed daily so that they will execute their duties effectively.
The name HoKaNam was derived from the names of the past operations such as Hornkranz, Kalahari and Namib Desert Operation. It consists of the police, NDF, National Correctional Services ( NCS), Windhoek Municipal police services and other stakeholders in the fight against crime nationwide.