Cops serve Ndama from a shade tree

With criminal activities rife at Rundu's Ndama informal settlement, the Kavango East police yesterday responded to the cries of the community and set up satellite station that will initially operate from under a tree. The satellite station, which operates daily from 08:00 to 17:00, will provide locals with administrative services, such as the certifying of copies, good conduct certificates and the opening of criminal cases. Ndama has been declared the most troubled area in Rundu, where the majority of common assault and housebreaking cases take place.It was also at Ndama where 20-year-old Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda allegedly massacred five of his family members, including his mother, in July. Ndama community members asked the police to bring their services closer to the community in order to curb crime.At yesterday's event, Ndama headman Olavi Mpande explained how they managed to persuade the police to set up the satellite station.Mpande said together with various stakeholders affected by criminal activities at Ndama, they wrote a letter to the Kavango East regional commander, Commissioner Johanna Ngondo.Mpande said Ngondo then had a meeting with her team and instructed the Rundu station commander, Chief Inspector Paulus Hauwanga, to have a meeting with the Ndama community to see how best they could address the situation.“We met with Hauwanga and reiterated our cry for police services, just as we indicated in our letter to the regional commander. At that meeting we were told about the financial crisis the country is in and that there is no money to put up a structure,” Mpande said.Mpande said they informed Hauwanga that structures could come at a later stage and they just wanted a police presence at Ndama, even if they operated from under a tree.Hauwanga reiterated what Mpande told the crowd.He said based on the cries of the community, they took the decision to operate from under a tree until a better alternative could be found, such as a caravan.“Let us be realistic; the rapidly expanding town of Rundu can no longer only depend on the Rundu police station. The police must serve with excellence and that's why we are bringing services closer to the people,” Hauwanga said.He said Rundu needs about four more satellite police stations in order for the close to 90 000 residents to be served effectively.With the rainy season fast approaching, Hauwanga said they would manage the situation as it unfolds.KENYA KAMBOWE

Cops serve Ndama from a shade tree

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Cops serve Ndama from a shade tree

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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