Top cop tears into boozing teachers

Kavango West police chief Commissioner Josephat Abel has expressed his utmost disappointment with teachers in the region, whom he says are the main culprits when it comes to drunken driving and driving without a valid driver's licence.Abel made his remarks during a stakeholders meeting at Kahenge on Tuesday, where issues pertaining to liquor licence laws, gender-based violence and the drought relief programme were discussed.Abel said about 50% of the culprits who have been found guilty of drunken driving and operating a vehicle without a valid driver's licence in Kavango West are from the teaching fraternity, which is worrisome.He said that in most accident-related cases that involve a teacher, they are either under the influence of alcohol or are driving without a valid licence.Abel then asked what kind of example the teachers are setting for their learners.“The people who are abusing alcohol in this region are teachers,” Abel said.“In most accident cases we are coming upon, it involves teachers. They are drinking and driving, they drive without a valid driver's licence and you say this one is a teacher. If the teachers are drunkards what are they teaching our children? What seeds are you planting?”Abel said the same can be said about police officers.He, however, explained there is a department within the police that deals with officers who report for duty under the influence of alcohol.He then asked who holds teachers accountable at schools, if they are under the influence of alcohol. Abel said if learners see teachers in public abusing alcohol, it defeats the purpose of the various measures currently in place that are trying to deal with the issue of alcohol and drug abuse amongst the youth. He said he does not understand why Kavango West, which is rich in culture and traditional norms and the upholding of morals, is then also among the regions with high crime rates.He made reference to the high rate of gender-based violence, especially common assault cases, being reported in the community.He further questioned whether this was also part of the cultural norms.“Are we saying that assaulting is culture, to drink and drive is culture?” he asked.Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku called on traditional leaders to drive development in their communities.Ausiku said the village development committees (VDCs) have an important role to play in Kavango West, which is 99% rural.KENYA KAMBOWE

Top cop tears into boozing teachers

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-04

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Top cop tears into boozing teachers

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-04

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