My police training diary

By Fabian Amukwelele This article draws on my experience over the past months as a trainee at Ruben Danger’ Ashipala Police Training Centre - from July 1, 2014 up until February 21 this year. Like many, I never envisioned joining the police force one day. As an Honours Degree graduate, I was under the impression that the fraternity was a breeding ground where high school dropouts are employed and that police services are always done at a snail’s pace. “Nothing can prepare you for your first day, was one of the common sentiments shared by previous trainees I came across before I travelled to the Centre. The centre was named after a legendary war hero by the name of Ruben Ashipala, better known by his combat name, Danger’. Ashipala was credited for leading battalions with minimum casualties out of fierce battle zones during the darkest hours of the liberation struggle of Namibia. It was his guerrilla tactics that ensured serious blows to the enemies. Today his name lives on in the Ruben Danger’ Ashipala Police Training Centre, which hosts around 700 to 2 000 trainees at a time. The great pleasure of the Centre is the modified reality of a total set of exercise workouts, absence of distraction, a healthy balanced diet, discipline management, and tailor-made programmes. What keeps trainees busy are the activities essential to transform them from civilians into refined credible police officers of high societal standing that the public can look up to as modern peacekeepers. The training further offers classes that touch on the different articles found in the Namibian Constitution. The class modules are complemented by the different sections of the Arms and Ammunition Act, coupled with sections embodied in the Criminal Procedure Act. It’s said that Namibia is rich in cultural diversity; therefore one of the most keenly anticipated days is what is known as Culture Day’. On this day trainees are accorded the opportunity to showcase their patriotism through cultural performances. All the tribes were granted a month to prepare their cultural attire. All the tribes deliver breathtaking performances aimed at forging unity and preserving the rich cultures of Namibia. Another red-letter day is the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) Games, which take place in Swaziland this year. The wheels were set in motion to scout a team of trainees to represent the Namibian Police at the event. On the sport day trainees from different companies (groups) battle it out in different sport codes such as football, netball, volleyball, and track and field. Although critics are quick to rush to social media and paint an ugly picture of the training, all the crawling, sit-ups, push-ups, squad kicks and the rolling in the sun are tactics used to prepare trainees for a possible shoot-out with a criminal. It’s against this backdrop I find it incomprehensible how some trainees look at the training and see something completely different. The training equipped me with an exceptional insight into what women and men in the force go through in order to protect and maintain the internal security of Namibia. Coupled with a rush of a lifetime, hands down this was the best experience, as I now understand the modus operandi instituted under the former Deputy Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze at Ruben Danger’ Ashipala Police Training Centre, Ondangwa. Recently Tjiveze was promoted as the Commissioner in charge of overseeing the Khomas Region as a Regional Commander of the Namibian Police Force. Looking back I can proudly say that we are ready to serve the nation with honour and dignity. * Fabian Amukwelele is a City Police officer and a 2014-2015 Ruben Danger’ Ashipala Police Training College trainee.