Prison chief retires

THE Commissioner General of the Namibia Correctional Services, Evaristus Shikongo, retired last week and has been succeeded by Raphael Hamunyela.

The outgoing commissioner, who served the correctional services for the past 18 years, said his profession was one of the “highest callings on earth”.

“But I have had the privilege and honour of being able to live out this calling for most of my life for the past 18 years,” Shikongo said at the change of command parade in Omaruru last week.

The parade was also attended by the Minister of Safety and Security, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, and other dignitaries.

Shikongo further said during his tenure, with the support of his staff, they made tremendous achievements in terms of correctional services reforms and modernisation initiatives geared towards the realisation of the vision of the correctional services.

“We are leaders in Africa in the provision of correctional services, and our achievements include the introduction of a new Policy Document and Mission Statement that supports correction reforms, the introduction of a Correctional Management University degree programme in collaboration with the Polytechnic of Namibia, the enactment of the Correctional Service Act 2012 and the overall modern correctional approach in Namibia, among other policies we introduced,” Shikongo said.

In his address, Hamunyela thanked Shikongo and President Hifikepunye Pohamba: “Your tireless efforts have made the transformation of the Correctional Services into a highly functional entity focused on excellence in service delivery in the Namibian Criminal Justice System possible. My priorities among others include, to contribute to the socio-economic development of our country and to uphold the policy of reconciliation,” Hamunyela said.

He added that as much as he would ensure the betterment and growth of correctional services officers, he would also not hesitate to hold any officer, who fails to live up to the code of conduct of the service, accountable.