Namibia: Law Enforcement Must Set Example

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The Namibian (Windhoek)

8 August 2008
Posted to the web 8 August 2008

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba this week addressed the question of Police motivation as being essential in the fight against crime.

He emphasised that the Police, in order to fulfil their mandate, needed adequate resources to do so, but also, perhaps more importantly, disciplined and motivated men and women in the force.

At the same occasion, the annual meeting of the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (Sarpcco), Minister of Safety and Security Nickey Iyambo emphasised that crime destroyed countries and chased away much-needed investment.

Although he did not say so, crime also deters tourism, and probably most importantly, it makes life difficult for citizens of a country in which crime is rife.

We do not necessarily agree with the Minister's statement that the biggest challenges facing police in southern Africa were drug trafficking, money laundering and the high number of illegal firearms, at least not with the order in which he gave them.

First and foremost is the individual citizen's right to live safely and without constant threats posed by criminals.

We would therefore say that the need to curb violent crime is priority number one, especially when it is targeted against those who are society's most vulnerable members, namely women and children.

Accepting that our Police need resources, and also thorough training, it must also be stated that discipline and commitment to the public they serve must always be paramount.

That having been said, there have been a number of cases in the media recently of top members of the Police force who bring no credit to the force and these must be dealt with in no uncertain terms, for the trickle-down effect of bad leadership can only harm the Police's image, and of course, their effectiveness in the communities they serve.

Media reports have shown that in a recent drink-driving crackdown in the capital, a top officer responsible, ironically, for discipline in the force, showed an absolute lack of respect for Police procedures when he initially refused to take a breathalyser test and shortly after, cut and ran! In yet another incident, another top officer was jailed for murder.

Still another recent case showed on CCTV cameras, a policeman investigating a crime scene dipped his own fingers into the till! There are others.

The President must ensure that that the law takes its course against, for example, the officer apprehended for alleged drink-driving.

A person of such low calibre should not be represented in the leadership of the force, which needs to have people of impeccable reputation, honesty, and those who abide by the law themselves.

How can discipline be instilled in a police force which is headed by murderers and fugitives from justice? It is just not possible.

And if the perception that such people should be protected or treated leniently because of their status takes root, we can forget about an effective police force.

This has nothing to do with money, training or resources.

It has to do with character.

Top officials should be just that because they merit those positions of trust and can take our law enforcement arm to greater heights both in the eyes of the community and in the fight against crime.

It is therefore a priority to ensure that there is zero tolerance for such elements in the force, regardless of rank, but more particularly the upper echelons of the Police.

We believe we do have in the senior ranks officers whom the country can be proud of, but we also have some 'rotten apples' who should be rooted out in the interests of the image and credibility of law enforcement in this country.

The Anti-Corruption Commission should also see to it that crimes committed by members of the force be given priority in terms of their investigations, so the culprits can be dealt with speedily and decisively in order to demonstrate zero tolerance of this criminal culture, and to ensure it is not allowed to take root and flourish in our society to the detriment of good policing, which our community so direly needs.

We trust that this matter will be taken further by the authorities in the interests of good governance in law enforcement in our country.

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