Kashihakumwa to head anti-poaching unit
ILENI NANDJATO
The former Oshana Region police commander, Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, looks set to head the new anti-poaching unit under the ministry of environment, Namibian Sun has learnt.
Cabinet approved the establishment of the anti-poaching unit last year as the country grapples with a wildlife poaching crisis.
Environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed that the Office of the Prime Minister had approved the division’s structure and that its head had been recruited.
He declined to disclose the name of the head of the division.
“It is true that we have established the anti-poaching division and already approved by the Office of the Prime Minister. We have already recruited the head of the unit who will be the director,” he said.
According to Muyunda, the anti-poaching unit will assist Nampol in combating poaching.
It is expected that the new unit will control anti-poaching efforts in all national parks.
“Currently the Namibian police are only assisting the ministry when it was realised that the poaching cases had increased across our national parks. Our anti-poaching division is going to work hand in hand with the Namibian police as a law-enforcing agency.”
Approached for comment, Kashihakumwa said nobody had called him yet regarding the anti-poaching unit position, but he was ready to serve his country.
“Being on retirement does not mean that somebody has divorced from national programmes. If government approaches me, I will take it up and continues where I ended,” Kashihakumwa said.
In June 2015, Kashihakumwa, while still heading Oshana police, was appointed to be the first ‘gold commander’ of the Etosha anti-poaching operation.
“During my three-month stay in Etosha, I had a team of intelligence police officials. We identified a number of poaching syndicates that led to the arrests of several suspects,” he said.
In the same year Kashihakumwa went on early retirement after an illustrious police career.
Kashihakumwa received intelligence and VIP protection military training in Cuba after going to exile in 1975.
Upon return to Angola in 1980, he became a senior intelligence officer, tasked with the protection of former president Sam Nujoma.
After independence, Kashihakumwa was assigned to Nampol as head of counter-intelligence at State House,
He was then transferred to the Namibia Defence Force in 1992 and later appointed investigator at the ministry of works.
In 1996, he was transferred back to Nampol as chief inspector and VIP commanding officer.
In 2000 he was promoted to the rank of deputy commissioner in 2005 appointed as Omusati regional commander. Two years later he was transferred to Oshana until his retirement in 2015.
During his tenure as Oshana police chief, Kashihakumwa was credited with significantly reducing crime in the region once known as a hotbed of criminal activity.
The former Oshana Region police commander, Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, looks set to head the new anti-poaching unit under the ministry of environment, Namibian Sun has learnt.
Cabinet approved the establishment of the anti-poaching unit last year as the country grapples with a wildlife poaching crisis.
Environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed that the Office of the Prime Minister had approved the division’s structure and that its head had been recruited.
He declined to disclose the name of the head of the division.
“It is true that we have established the anti-poaching division and already approved by the Office of the Prime Minister. We have already recruited the head of the unit who will be the director,” he said.
According to Muyunda, the anti-poaching unit will assist Nampol in combating poaching.
It is expected that the new unit will control anti-poaching efforts in all national parks.
“Currently the Namibian police are only assisting the ministry when it was realised that the poaching cases had increased across our national parks. Our anti-poaching division is going to work hand in hand with the Namibian police as a law-enforcing agency.”
Approached for comment, Kashihakumwa said nobody had called him yet regarding the anti-poaching unit position, but he was ready to serve his country.
“Being on retirement does not mean that somebody has divorced from national programmes. If government approaches me, I will take it up and continues where I ended,” Kashihakumwa said.
In June 2015, Kashihakumwa, while still heading Oshana police, was appointed to be the first ‘gold commander’ of the Etosha anti-poaching operation.
“During my three-month stay in Etosha, I had a team of intelligence police officials. We identified a number of poaching syndicates that led to the arrests of several suspects,” he said.
In the same year Kashihakumwa went on early retirement after an illustrious police career.
Kashihakumwa received intelligence and VIP protection military training in Cuba after going to exile in 1975.
Upon return to Angola in 1980, he became a senior intelligence officer, tasked with the protection of former president Sam Nujoma.
After independence, Kashihakumwa was assigned to Nampol as head of counter-intelligence at State House,
He was then transferred to the Namibia Defence Force in 1992 and later appointed investigator at the ministry of works.
In 1996, he was transferred back to Nampol as chief inspector and VIP commanding officer.
In 2000 he was promoted to the rank of deputy commissioner in 2005 appointed as Omusati regional commander. Two years later he was transferred to Oshana until his retirement in 2015.
During his tenure as Oshana police chief, Kashihakumwa was credited with significantly reducing crime in the region once known as a hotbed of criminal activity.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article