22 Jul 2018

Ngamiland community has been urged to join hands with the law enforcement agencies in a bid to make the district a safe and secure area.

District No.5 officer commanding, Senior Superintendent Peter Gochela appealed to the community to augment their efforts in combating crime in the district which was a tourism hub.

In an interview, he said it was important to fight crime as a team in order to attract more investors and tourists adding that “we should give tourists the confidence to come here and enjoy the beauty of the Okavango Delta without any fear.”

Through concerted efforts between law enforcement agencies and stakeholders, he said they could win the battle and make Ngamiland crime free.

However, Senior Superintendent Gochela said the district registered an overall reduction in crime during the first quarter of 2019/20 financial year which ended in June as compared to the same period last year.

He said there was a reduction of nine per cent but noted that some offences such as house break-ins and theft, robbery and drugs went up.

He stated that offences that were worrisome such as rape had gone down since 22 cases were recorded as opposed to 30 last year.

Senior Superintendent Gochela said there was also a decrease in murder cases and stock theft which were also major challenges faced by the district.

Stock theft cases, he said declined from 30 to 18 while two murder cases were recorded compared to 10 last year.

Senior Superintendent Gochela also highlighted that there was a great decrease in both fatal and road accidents as they had shown a decline of 50 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.

Despite reduction in overall crime, the police chief noted that drugs and related substance and house break-ins remained a concern with the two recording an increase of 31 and 36 per cent respectively.

Furthermore, Senior Superintendent Gochela said the district was experiencing an emerging trend of violence especially at Sanyedi Ward in Maun where people were being assaulted at entertainment outlets after closing hours.

He said some were assaulted and their valuables taken by force noting that they arrested six middle aged men in connection with the offences and would appear before the customary court while some would be taken to the magistrate court. ENDS