AS from August this year, the long wait for the results of DNA tests should be something of the past for Namibians.

This assurance came from Paul Ludik, Director of the National Forensic Science Institute, at a briefing with the Minister of Safety and Security, Nickey Iyambo, in Windhoek yesterday morning.

This means that Namibia will soon be able to analyse all DNA samples locally.

"All of that [the sending away of samples] is gone. From August we will be completely self-sufficient," Ludik said.

Over the years, this institute and the Namibian Police have come under fire because of the long wait for the outcome of tests done on certain genetic material. This was attributed to the fact that some DNA samples had to be sent to neighbouring South Africa or Canada for analysis. This process took months.

This shortcoming was highlighted a few years ago, when a number of women were murdered and their dismembered body parts strewn along the national roads.

Tests to determine whether body parts matched had to be done outside the country.

Ludik took Iyambo on a tour of the new state-of-the-art forensic laboratory, which is expected to be in full operation later this year.

The laboratory, touted as "one of the most modern facilities that you will find globally", is expected to cost millions of dollars. The building alone is expected to cost about N$10 million.