Police officers not immune to GBV, Shikongo warns

Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo has warned that police officers are also at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) and abuse.

Speaking at a police–community engagement in Rundu this week, Shikongo said GBV affects everyone, including members of the police force, but often goes unreported because victims fear speaking out.

“GBV is happening to everybody, including police officers,” the police chief said. “You find a police officer coming to work with a swollen eye and telling people they fell from the stairs, when they know very well they were beaten.”

He cautioned that silence within households and institutions continues to fuel both domestic crime and wider insecurity.

He said a widespread culture of silence mirrors other social problems, with abuse often hidden until it escalates into serious harm or death. Shikongo noted that many assault cases in the region, including assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), stem from domestic violence that occurs behind closed doors.

“These things are happening in bedrooms, in houses, in closed setups,” he said, adding that the only sustainable way to tackle GBV is through education and community involvement.

Violence breeds more violence

Shikongo urged traditional, church, political and community leaders to confront domestic violence head-on, underscoring that abuse should never be normalised within communities and households.

The police chief challenged abusers to explain why they beat vulnerable partners or children, warning that unresolved abuse often spills into wider criminal behaviour.

Turning to law enforcement, Shikongo declared that bribery is a two-way crime. Citizens who offer bribes to avoid arrest are just as culpable as officers who accept them.

“When you offer a police officer money not to take your case, both of you are corrupt,” he said. “We must arrest both of you.”

Shikongo also highlighted crime trends in the region, naming stock theft, housebreaking, cellphone snatching and assault as the most common offences.

He tied these crimes to weak community cooperation and strained relations between residents and police.

Stop the excuses

He acknowledged residents’ frustration over slow police response times, warning that excuses such as a lack of vehicles would no longer be tolerated.

Shikongo said orders had been issued to ensure police vehicles are used solely for operational duties and not parked at private homes or entertainment venues.

“It is very frustrating when people are told there is no car, but they see a police vehicle parked at a bar,” he admitted.

Shikongo said efforts are under way to strengthen visible policing, including increased foot patrols and closer cooperation with crime prevention forums. He highlighted plans to expand CCTV camera projects, similar to those implemented elsewhere, which he said have already helped reduce crime.

He urged residents to revive neighbourhood watch initiatives and rebuild trust among neighbours, arguing that communities that fail to communicate cannot effectively fight crime.

“How do you fight crime if you don’t talk to each other?”

Shikongo concluded by calling for unity beyond tribal, national or social divisions, stressing that crime prevention starts in homes and communities. “Police officers come from your houses,” he said. “If we want safety, we must first deal with what is happening inside our own homes.”

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