Windhoek City Police still in limbo

WINDHOEK Mayor Matheus Shikongo has apologised to residents for the delay in setting up the City Police.

While not providing reasons for the delay, Shikongo pledged the Council’s commitment to a crime-free capital when he addressed Wednesday night’s Council meeting, the last of the current office bearers. Shikongo said the Council was aware of projects that had not been finalised during their term in office – the City Police being one of them.”There is no doubt that with firm commitment by the City and/or partners in the project, the City Police project will be implemented without further delay,” he said.The establishment of a municipal police force was put on the agenda of the Windhoek City Council almost four years ago.Last year, the City said the force would be on the streets by July 2003.During the 2003-04 financial year, the municipality set aside about N$30 million for the City Police, with about N$34 million expected to come in through ratepayers levies introduced last July.At Wednesday’s meeting, Shikongo said he was aware of reports that the money set aside for the project was no longer there.”There is a lot of talk about the budget but I want to assure you the money is there, untouched.It’s safe-guarded,” he added.Yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Jerry Ekandjo shed light on the issue when answering a question from the opposition Congress of Democrats in the National Assembly.He put the delays down to ensuring that the correct policy and administrative structures were put in place in accordance with the Police Amendment Act 3 of 1999.Ekandjo denied that political interference was at play and that the process had been stalled because Government, municipal officials and councillors were at loggerheads.”The bickering being talked about is a fabrication of the true facts,” maintained Ekandjo.”The delays experienced are of a technical nature.It is the result of the arduous process of putting structures in place both in terms of policy and administration to ascertain a smooth running of the service,” he said.Ekandjo said they had reached the stage of recruiting officers and set mid-year as the date by which the force would be in place.He told the House that in terms of the law he had the authority to determine the regulations under which any local authority established a municipal police service.The Minister added that he was eager to see the Police force get off the ground as he understood the demand for security.He said the service would also augment the work of NamPol.Ekandjo also denied reports that the head of the City Police had already been appointed.Shikongo said the Council was aware of projects that had not been finalised during their term in office – the City Police being one of them.”There is no doubt that with firm commitment by the City and/or partners in the project, the City Police project will be implemented without further delay,” he said.The establishment of a municipal police force was put on the agenda of the Windhoek City Council almost four years ago.Last year, the City said the force would be on the streets by July 2003.During the 2003-04 financial year, the municipality set aside about N$30 million for the City Police, with about N$34 million expected to come in through ratepayers levies introduced last July.At Wednesday’s meeting, Shikongo said he was aware of reports that the money set aside for the project was no longer there.”There is a lot of talk about the budget but I want to assure you the money is there, untouched.It’s safe-guarded,” he added.Yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Jerry Ekandjo shed light on the issue when answering a question from the opposition Congress of Democrats in the National Assembly.He put the delays down to ensuring that the correct policy and administrative structures were put in place in accordance with the Police Amendment Act 3 of 1999.Ekandjo denied that political interference was at play and that the process had been stalled because Government, municipal officials and councillors were at loggerheads.”The bickering being talked about is a fabrication of the true facts,” maintained Ekandjo.”The delays experienced are of a technical nature.It is the result of the arduous process of putting structures in place both in terms of policy and administration to ascertain a smooth running of the service,” he said.Ekandjo said they had reached the stage of recruiting officers and set mid-year as the date by which the force would be in place.He told the House that in terms of the law he had the authority to determine the regulations under which any local authority established a municipal police service.The Minister added that he was eager to see the Police force get off the ground as he understood the demand for security.He said the service would also augment the work of NamPol.Ekandjo also denied reports that the head of the City Police had already been appointed.