Katima police station gets facelift

Much-needed renovations currently underway at Katima Mulilo Police Station will alleviate the challenges previously experienced by police officers and inmates due to dilapidated infrastructure.

The station, which was built in 1961, was falling apart, with the sewerage system not functioning, resulting in continuous overflow inside and outside the station.

Additionally, the kitchen, inmates’ cells, charge office and police barracks were in a run-down state.

Station commander Charles Muyumbelo said the station is grateful for the renovations currently underway.

He said staff members would in the past be welcomed by overflowing sewage at the station’s entrance, and would have to endure the stench all day.

“Our daily operations and health were compromised due to the overflowing sewage. They say a worker’s performance is impacted by the environment in which they work, so with these renovations, things will be looking up for us and the public as well,” he said.

Muyumbelo said renovations kicked off in December.

He said additional toilets would be added to the six inmate cells, and the existing toilets and taps would be repaired.
“Other works include the painting of the whole police station, putting tiles in the charge office and other facilities. We will also put a new police station plaque outside, among others,” he said.

Muyumbelo said the station’s daily operations are not interrupted by the renovations, and that the public is currently served in a tent outside the station and other offices.

He said about 60 inmates have been transported to Grootfontein, while renovations are being done.

“As much as we welcome these renovations, we are still faced with immense inmate capacity challenges at the station. The actual capacity of inmates is 80, however, as we speak, there are about 333 inmates in the cells.

“We need another police station to be constructed to alleviate these challenges,” he said.

Muyumbelo referred cost-related queries to regional police commander Andreas Shilelo.

However, efforts to get Shilelo’s comment were unsuccessful.

Minister of home affairs, safety and security Albert Kawana in December officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Greenwell Matongo Class-B Police Station, which will be built at a cost of N$130 million at Katima Mulilo.