The Omaheke Police Regional Commander Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze is urging traditional authorities in the Aminius Constituency to strengthen working relationships with the police to maintain law and order.
Commissioner Tjiveze remarked on this during a one-day engagement session with traditional leaders at Aminius.
Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze stressed that traditional authorities are key stakeholders and hence form a formidable partnership with the police to assist in curbing crime and illegal activities within their boundaries.
"Criminals are living within the communities they're part of. The community crime is committed within the community; therefore, it is important that we as a police force come to the leadership and to the community to deal with the issue of crime. We are also from the community, but we're serving the community, and there's no way we can serve the community without their assistance. That's why we thought, 'Let's meet the traditional leadership; let's hear first from them if there's a need. We will come back to the larger community, but first, let's engage, listen to TAs, and plan before we can come back to the community.'"
He highlighted challenges faced by the force, such as limited accommodation facilities for staff members and transport in the region, amongst others.
Batswana's Ba Namibia's Kgosi Andrew Kgosimang emphasised that coordination between traditional authorities needs improvement.
He cited stronger ties when it comes to issuing supporting documents for permits and monitoring of livestock movement within their areas of jurisdiction.
"I touch on the permits and DNA, and maybe Van Wyk can also just help us. I know we must stockbrand, but is there any other way we can assist the police in terms of evidence for stock theft? Because sometimes you get the meat, and the police ask, 'Where's the head or the skin? We need to link these two,' but sometimes the evidence is difficult to link, and we just want to provide what other evidence we can provide to assist."
Ovaherero Traditional Authority's Senior Traditional Councillor, Edward Uandara, says that there is a need for community police officers in the area, and each Traditional Authority will have to second people that will be attached to the police to assist with operations.
"Us under the OTA, we have already come up with plans, and we have a community police officer, and we shall forward their names to your office through him. We also have others at Onderombapa and Corridor 13, meaning you will not wait for anything from us; you will work with him going forward."
The Aminius Constituency Councillor, Isando Kavari, welcomed the initiative taken by the police force to engage with traditional authorities.
Kavari also added that through his office they'll ensure that quarterly meetings are happening between all involved stakeholders to ensure that what has been discussed is implemented.