Cops crack down on wedding parties
Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga said those arrested at their own weddings should be embarrassed, as they only had one responsibility, which was to comply with the Covid-19 regulations.
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
OSHAKATI
As Covid-19 infections continue to soar amid fears that the north of the country will soon turn into the next epicentre, the police have vowed to continue their crackdown on wedding festivities that do not comply with Covid-19 regulations, including a maximum of 10 guests, hand sanitising and a register to record those in attendance.
This follows the arrest of a bride and groom at separate wedding festivities this past weekend, during which 63 couples tied the knot in the Omusati Region alone. The bride was arrested at Eengete village in Ogongo constituency on Saturday, where more than 100 guests attended. According to the police, no provision for hand sanitising was made and there was no register.
Omusati police spokesperson, Commissioner Titus Shikongo, said the bride can either pay a fine of N$2 000 or appear in court.
By yesterday afternoon, the woman had not yet paid the fine.
Her husband and his entourage fled the scene.
In a separate incident at Ohaushombo village in Oshana, a 34-year-old groom was also arrested, as his wedding was attended by more than the stipulated 10 people allowed.
Oshana regional commander, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, said the suspect has since been released, after also being fined N$2 000, which he is yet to pay.
'You should be embarrassed'
Police Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga said he is irked by Namibians not complying with regulations put in place to avoid the further spread of the coronavirus.
About 30 weddings took place in Oshana over the weekend, he added.
Ndeitunga said those arrested should be embarrassed, as they only had one responsibility, which was to comply with the regulations.
“It is embarrassing that Namibians cannot follow rules. Now they are satisfied with being arrested on their wedding days? They should police themselves, because now they are wasting government resources,” he fumed.
Self-discipline needed
Ndeitunga said the virus can only be defeated if people are self-disciplined.
“Tell yourself that you do not want to be a transmission belt of the virus, which might result in the death of someone.”
Ndeitunga also warned regions that have not provided figures on how many weddings or funerals took place in their respective areas.
This, he said, is a sign that they are not hard at work when it comes to monitoring such festivities.
“I applaud my people for doing more. Some regions are reluctant. They must follow suit to what others are doing, otherwise they are not fit to wear the blue uniform,” he said.
Oshikoto compliant
Oshikoto regional commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute, said he is only aware of one wedding in the region at Omutse Gwonime, but said the guests were compliant with the rules.
He said his station commanders conducted awareness campaigns soon after President Hage Geingob made changes to the regulations.
“We are happy that majority of the people are complying with the regulations. There is still ignorance in some, but very few,” he said.
'Cannot guard houses all day'
Meanwhile, Ohangwena police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Abner Kaume Itumba, could not provide figures on the number of weddings that took place in the region.
He, however, said they too sensitised the public on national radio.
He added that some weddings take place in the remote areas.
“We did not arrest anyone, but we had our officers on the ground to monitor. Obviously, we cannot guard houses the whole day, but we can only hope that once we left, people continued to comply. The fight is for all of us,” Itumba said.
[email protected]
OSHAKATI
As Covid-19 infections continue to soar amid fears that the north of the country will soon turn into the next epicentre, the police have vowed to continue their crackdown on wedding festivities that do not comply with Covid-19 regulations, including a maximum of 10 guests, hand sanitising and a register to record those in attendance.
This follows the arrest of a bride and groom at separate wedding festivities this past weekend, during which 63 couples tied the knot in the Omusati Region alone. The bride was arrested at Eengete village in Ogongo constituency on Saturday, where more than 100 guests attended. According to the police, no provision for hand sanitising was made and there was no register.
Omusati police spokesperson, Commissioner Titus Shikongo, said the bride can either pay a fine of N$2 000 or appear in court.
By yesterday afternoon, the woman had not yet paid the fine.
Her husband and his entourage fled the scene.
In a separate incident at Ohaushombo village in Oshana, a 34-year-old groom was also arrested, as his wedding was attended by more than the stipulated 10 people allowed.
Oshana regional commander, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, said the suspect has since been released, after also being fined N$2 000, which he is yet to pay.
'You should be embarrassed'
Police Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga said he is irked by Namibians not complying with regulations put in place to avoid the further spread of the coronavirus.
About 30 weddings took place in Oshana over the weekend, he added.
Ndeitunga said those arrested should be embarrassed, as they only had one responsibility, which was to comply with the regulations.
“It is embarrassing that Namibians cannot follow rules. Now they are satisfied with being arrested on their wedding days? They should police themselves, because now they are wasting government resources,” he fumed.
Self-discipline needed
Ndeitunga said the virus can only be defeated if people are self-disciplined.
“Tell yourself that you do not want to be a transmission belt of the virus, which might result in the death of someone.”
Ndeitunga also warned regions that have not provided figures on how many weddings or funerals took place in their respective areas.
This, he said, is a sign that they are not hard at work when it comes to monitoring such festivities.
“I applaud my people for doing more. Some regions are reluctant. They must follow suit to what others are doing, otherwise they are not fit to wear the blue uniform,” he said.
Oshikoto compliant
Oshikoto regional commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute, said he is only aware of one wedding in the region at Omutse Gwonime, but said the guests were compliant with the rules.
He said his station commanders conducted awareness campaigns soon after President Hage Geingob made changes to the regulations.
“We are happy that majority of the people are complying with the regulations. There is still ignorance in some, but very few,” he said.
'Cannot guard houses all day'
Meanwhile, Ohangwena police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Abner Kaume Itumba, could not provide figures on the number of weddings that took place in the region.
He, however, said they too sensitised the public on national radio.
He added that some weddings take place in the remote areas.
“We did not arrest anyone, but we had our officers on the ground to monitor. Obviously, we cannot guard houses the whole day, but we can only hope that once we left, people continued to comply. The fight is for all of us,” Itumba said.
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