Covid lockdowns, patrols deplete police coffers

Home affairs and safety minister Albert Kawana revealed in Parliament last week that lockdowns and expanded police patrols to enforce Covid-19 protocols throughout the country depleted police resources by October 2021.This prompted the ministry to consult Treasury and the Office of the Prime Minister, and subsequently N$1 million was availed for sanitisers and other protective materials.These materials included police services for Covid-19 home deaths and funerals.“Treasury availed N$15 million on 25 November 2021 and a further N$30 million on 7 February 2022. As a result of additional funds availed by Treasury, police operations are able to continue and currently all police fuelling stations have fuel,” Kawana said.The minister responded to questions by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Jan van Wyk, who questioned why requests were made to suppliers to assist the Namibian Police with fuel.Van Wyk also wanted to know what measures are in place to properly monitor misappropriation of fuel supply under these arrangements.Inspect the situationThe ministry responded that there is a policy in place where all deliveries of fuel at police fuelling stations are regulated under the Stores Manual.“Before any delivery takes place at any police fuelling station, a dip reading should be done. After delivery, a dip reading should again be done. Only after that process is a delivery note signed by the delivery officer and the receiving officer.“The same provisions of the Stores Manual also apply to control the usage of fuel at police fuelling stations whenever police vehicles, river boats, patrol vessels, helicopters and standby generators are refuelled,” he said.Kawana also informed Parliament that there is a need to pay visits to towns like Rehoboth to inspect the situation.jemima@namibiansun.com

Covid lockdowns, patrols deplete police coffers

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-23

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Covid lockdowns, patrols deplete police coffers

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-23

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