Police take on rural safety

THE Namibian Police have engaged farmers’ unions in a bid to curb crimes in the farming sector.

The memorandum of understanding the police signed with the Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU) and the Namibia Emerging Farmers’ Union (NECFU) on Thursday aims to promote rural safety.

Inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga, who signed the memorandum on behalf of the police, said the agreement between the three institutions would allow farmers to go about their day-to-day activities in a peaceful, safe and secure environment, thereby improving and uplifting their living standards, as farmers are the backbone of any country’s economy, and therefore, need to be protected at all times.

“Farmers are the pillars of our economy and we need to protect them. Just imagine if the business of agriculture and farming collapses, can you imagine the catastrophe it will cause in this country? It will be a big loss,” said Ndeitunga.

President of NAU Ryno van der Merwe, speaking at the same event said the signing of the memorandum came at the right time when farmers were experiencing an increase of stock theft, attacks on farmers and “their fences and infrastructure being destroyed by strange people that are sometimes never arrested”.

“Criminals targeting farmers are not just stealing livestock, but they are also robbing the country of its economy and job opportunities for fellow Namibians,” said Van der Merwe. NECFU president, Ndahafa Nghifindaka-Tjiuongua, who also spoke at the same occasion, said even though farmers have formed neighbourhood watch groups, they are not effective enough to scare away criminals, thus they will feel safe with constant patrols from the police.

– Nampa