Youth gangs terrorise Windhoek
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Youth League has expressed concern over escalating gang-related crime in Windhoek, claiming that some crimes are committed with the full knowledge of corrupt police officers.
The secretary-general of the PDM Youth League, Bensen Katjirijova, says there are a number of notorious gangs in Windhoek and Namibians should be on high alert, as these criminals are active every day.
According to the PDMYL this increase in gangsterism is a direct result of abject poverty and high unemployment among young people.
“In a country with such a small population, we have a high level of crime, which is mostly committed by young people who have no other alternative to survive than to engage in criminal activities.”
He urged gang members to rather get involved in community projects, help build the country's economy and assist their families.
“We have also noted, with the assistance from members of the public, that most of the high-level criminal activities are committed with the assistance of some police officials, in one way or another,” said Katjirijova.
According to him crimes such as street mugging, housebreaking and robbery are being committed in the presence of police officers who turn a blind eye in exchange for a cut of the proceeds.
“We have noted that these cases have been reported to other high-ranking authorities and end up [to be] in vain. People are being robbed under the direct watch of police officers.
“Many of them ... happen in Katutura's Soweto. We call upon the police to carry out a serious operation in the entire Soweto township to ensure that these criminals and all their weapons are seized, and they are prosecuted,” said Katjirijova.
He charged that the police only respond to serious crimes, but that these are the end result of criminal careers that begin with petty crimes such as cellphone theft.
“This is where it all starts. We are no longer safe in our own motherland. Our brothers have become our enemies; they have turned into wild animals and notorious criminals.
“We call upon our government and the private sector to join hands, strongly hold hands and create employment opportunities for young people to reduce crime.”
The PDMYL also urged the safety and security ministry to improve its correctional services to ensure that criminals are properly rehabilitated.
ELLANIE SMIT
The secretary-general of the PDM Youth League, Bensen Katjirijova, says there are a number of notorious gangs in Windhoek and Namibians should be on high alert, as these criminals are active every day.
According to the PDMYL this increase in gangsterism is a direct result of abject poverty and high unemployment among young people.
“In a country with such a small population, we have a high level of crime, which is mostly committed by young people who have no other alternative to survive than to engage in criminal activities.”
He urged gang members to rather get involved in community projects, help build the country's economy and assist their families.
“We have also noted, with the assistance from members of the public, that most of the high-level criminal activities are committed with the assistance of some police officials, in one way or another,” said Katjirijova.
According to him crimes such as street mugging, housebreaking and robbery are being committed in the presence of police officers who turn a blind eye in exchange for a cut of the proceeds.
“We have noted that these cases have been reported to other high-ranking authorities and end up [to be] in vain. People are being robbed under the direct watch of police officers.
“Many of them ... happen in Katutura's Soweto. We call upon the police to carry out a serious operation in the entire Soweto township to ensure that these criminals and all their weapons are seized, and they are prosecuted,” said Katjirijova.
He charged that the police only respond to serious crimes, but that these are the end result of criminal careers that begin with petty crimes such as cellphone theft.
“This is where it all starts. We are no longer safe in our own motherland. Our brothers have become our enemies; they have turned into wild animals and notorious criminals.
“We call upon our government and the private sector to join hands, strongly hold hands and create employment opportunities for young people to reduce crime.”
The PDMYL also urged the safety and security ministry to improve its correctional services to ensure that criminals are properly rehabilitated.
ELLANIE SMIT
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