Crime not just an unemployment issue – Shikongo

Namibian Police Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo believes the country’s rising crime rates cannot be attributed solely to unemployment.Addressing the youth in Rundu on Tuesday, Shikongo spoke against the backdrop of a recent incident where a 20-year-old was arrested for allegedly stabbing and killing a security guard at Rundu’s old mall.The deceased was identified as 29-year-old Sivamba Pius Muyambo. According to police reports, the suspect was eating near the mall’s toilets when Muyambo, a guard for Myloje Security Company, confronted him and asked him to find a more appropriate place to eat.The suspect, reportedly enraged by the request, drew an okapi knife and stabbed Muyambo in the neck, killing him.Complex rootsShikongo acknowledged that while joblessness plays a role in some minor offences, the reality is more complex.“It is not just an unemployment issue. Yes, unemployment might push someone to shoplift a loaf of bread, but organised crime and drug and alcohol abuse are fuelling the most serious offences. These are the root causes we need to address,” he said.While small crimes like shoplifting may be linked to understandable roots, he said serious offences such as armed robbery and drug-related crimes are driven by more than just economic hardship.“Some might sympathise with a young mother stealing to feed her baby, but let’s not pretend that’s what’s behind the serious robberies and break-ins we’re seeing. These are organised efforts by people who have made crime their business. We can’t afford to simplify crime by saying it’s just about unemployment. If that were the case, every unemployed person would be a criminal, and that’s simply not true,” he added.“When you see someone steal a phone and sell it for a mere N$200, it’s not because they need money to survive; it’s because they’re trying to buy alcohol or drugs. This has nothing to do with a lack of employment,” he said.Shikongo highlighted the growing trend of organised crime, warning that opportunistic crimes like street robberies and car break-ins are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially along major routes like Windhoek to Katima Mulilo and Zambia.It starts at home Shikongo said it is time to stop blaming unemployment alone and start addressing the real issues. “Organised criminals are exploiting vulnerable youth and those involved in crime must be held accountable.”Shikongo also urged parents to take a more active role in guiding their children. “Parents, talk to your children. If they’re under 18, they have no business being in bars or clubs. Our laws are clear: no one under 18 should be in those spaces. We can’t always rely on the police or security guards to enforce what should start at home.”“Crime is not inevitable, and we can control it. But it starts with taking responsibility, within our homes, our communities, and our legal system. Let’s stop making excuses and start tackling the real issues head-on,” he added.Rundu Secondary School learner Salaka Danielson highlighted the impact of parental behaviour.“Many times, parents consuming alcohol offer it to their children. You find a child sitting with their father or mother, and the same parent is the one giving alcohol to the child. This raises the question: what kind of discipline is the parent teaching?”nikanor@erongo.com.na

Crime not just an unemployment issue – Shikongo

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Crime not just an unemployment issue – Shikongo

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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