Kanime vows to clean up city
As the growl from Windhoek residents bemoaning the state of law and order in the city becomes louder, City Police chief Abraham Kanime said his forces would be on the ground to prevent criminals flourishing and try their level best to ensure the safety of residents.
Kanime was highlighting some logistics around his organisation’s intensified focus to address by-law issues around trading on the streets, preventing illegal occupation of municipal land and shebeens and liquor outlet operations; noise pollution, drinking in public and closing times, among others.
He said his officers will also focus on underaged drinking, in increasingly common sites in Windhoek. This operation will continue throughout the year.
“Be assured that we as law enforcement will try our level best to maintain law and we urge you to report crimes to us, especially housebreaking. We will have to handle criminals accordingly,” said Kanime when contacted by New Era yesterday.
With the partnership between the Namibian Police as well as the Namibia Correctional Service around the capital, Kanime said the city has set its target for the year coupled with objectives, hence they decided to embark on this joint operation where the administrative staff will go and support the members on the ground.
“Road safety is another priority. We are talking about speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and moving violations (skipping robots), using a cellphone while driving, or driving without a seatbelt. We will also concentrate on warrants of arrest,” he stated.
He said they are set to monitor specific but not limited to routes that are prone to these violations, which include Hosea Kutako, Independence Avenue, Mandume Ndemufayo, Florence Nightingale, Robert Mugabe, and the Western Bypass.
“We will put all our equipment out there including CCTV cameras. When drivers come at these intersections, they must think and act as if an officer is there and we are
saying this clearly so that once you are fined or arrested, you shouldn’t be surprised,” he warned.
Members of the public have on several occasions accused the Namibian Police of brutality in executing their duties.
“I cannot rule out some behaviour by individuals and in case of any police brutality, we will leave no stones unturned in handling that situation. We are professionals and work on principles. People should feel safe. If there is such a thing (police brutality) it should be reported, we are trying,” said Kanime.