Kashihakumwa heads unit for anti-poaching

Former Oshana police commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa has been appointed as the head of the new anti-poaching unit. The appointment took effect on 1 August. This was announced yesterday by the environment minister, Pohamba Shifeta, who described the appointment as a step in the right direction to fight the escalating incidence of poaching in Namibia. Kashihakumwa's appointment is ideal given his background in the military, crime prevention, criminal investigation and intelligence, said Shifeta. “We believe his vast experience and abilities will help the ministry and the country in the fight against poaching.” According to the minister, Kashihakumwa is a trained soldier, an experienced police officer, a commander, a trained leader and he is also trained in the gathering of intelligence. Shifeta said Namibia's conservation success was being threatened by the current poaching trends. “Namibia was initially spared during the first few years of the wildlife crime crisis, but since 2013, rhino and elephant poaching has increased,” Shifeta said. Given this situation, the cabinet approved that the environment ministry re-organise existing staff structures and establish a dedicated anti-poaching unit. The organisation of the ministry, particularly the Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks, was amended to create the anti-poaching unit. The unit, with a staff of 495, was approved by the Public Service Commission. Seven members, including Kashihakumwa, have so far been appointed to the unit. Further appointments would only be made once money became available, the ministry confirmed. The unit, formally known as the Division: Wildlife Protection Services, will be a division within the ministry. Its work will consist of patrols, surveillance, investigations, on-the-job training and retraining, communication and adaptive management. Shifeta said the functions of the division would include protecting wildlife, mainly rhinos and elephants, from poaching. It will also promote the enforcement of wildlife laws in the country and with neighbouring states. It will also strengthen law enforcement and better prepare the ministry for syndicated forms of wildlife poaching. The division will further conduct arrests, seizures and the collection of crime scene evidence in collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies. According to Shifeta, the ministry is trying to intensify both ground and aerial patrols and therefore will reorganise its air wing to increase efficiency. The ministry already does aerial patrols but according to Shifeta using a helicopter is a very expensive way of patrolling small areas. He emphasised that the ministry had already contracted pilots who will soon start flying in the Etosha and Bwabwata national parks, where most poaching cases are reported. Rhino poaching incidents have increased from 56 in 2014, to 95 in 2015, 60 in 2016 and 21 so far this year. Elephant poaching incidents have increased from 78 in 2014, to 91 in 2015 and 101 in 2016.ELLANIE SMIT

Kashihakumwa heads unit for anti-poaching

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-09

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Kashihakumwa heads unit for anti-poaching

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-09

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