Low pay no excuse for corruption, police chief warns

Claims that low salaries are to blame for corrupt acts among police do not hold water, Inspector General of Police Joseph Shikongo has said, stressing that breaking the law is a personal choice unrelated to officers’ pay.

“Money will never be enough,” he said. “Even millionaires will tell you they don’t have enough. That cannot be a reason for a police officer to commit crime,” he said last week.

The police chief made these remarks during a visit by Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) chairperson Richard Luhanga.

He was addressing growing scrutiny across the region over corruption within police ranks and allegations of officers working with criminal networks.

Shikongo said Namibia is not immune, revealing that a number of police officers are currently behind bars or have been dismissed for criminal activities, including assisting criminals.

“There are police officers in jail as we speak,” he said. “Some have been discharged from the organisation because they were involved in crime.”

Shikongo, however, maintained that internal corruption is not widespread, saying they are isolated incidents rather than a systemic problem within the force.

At the same time, the inspector general made it clear that rank offers no protection.

“We do not condone misconduct, whether it involves a junior officer or a senior one,” he said. “If you are involved in crime, you will be arrested.”

He added: “The law has no boundaries. No matter how senior you are, if you are found to have committed an offence, the law must take its course.”

Integrity is key

Luhanga echoed this stance, saying corruption within police services cannot be justified by salary concerns.

“No police officer should claim to steal because they are receiving little pay,” he said. “If that is the case, then they should leave the police and go into business.”

He said while governments should ensure officers are properly supported, integrity remains the foundation of policing.

“If you don’t have integrity, you should not be in the police,” Luhanga stressed.

The chairperson emphasised that internal disciplinary systems are in place across SARPCCO’s 16 member states to deal with misconduct.

The visit formed part of ongoing engagements within SARPCCO, where police leaders from Southern Africa are working together to address crime, including corruption within their own ranks.

Shikongo said efforts are also being made to strengthen ethics training and financial management awareness among officers, but stressed that ultimately, individual responsibility remains key.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to the person,” he said. “We expect our officers to act with integrity and to uphold the law at all times.”

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