The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, and Safety and Security launched the "community against crime" initiative through a tournament hosted in Kalimbeza in the Zambezi Region.

Speaking at the official opening on Thursday, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, and Safety and Security, Dr. Albert Kawana, said the youth, in particular, should be actively involved in fighting crime in their areas instead of being part of the problem.

Dr. Kawana added that community involvement would greatly complement the police efforts in successfully combating crime.

"A clean environment is very important, and therefore that's why we decided to come here to organise this event to speak to our young people. As I said, today the country of Namibia is in the hands of our young people."

"In the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety, and security, we work as a team; there are no silos in home affairs; that's why we are successful; it's not kawana, it's not lt general shikongo; you heard the head of police say that teamwork is the key to success."

Inspector General of the Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, also appealed to the community to root out criminal elements.

"There are our children, there are our fathers, our mothers, our brothers and sisters, they live with us, so after this campaign today, we go back to our houses and we tell them to pack and go, let them go and leave at the bush there, so that we know who are the people who are committing crimes."

Lieutenant General Shikongo emphasised the significance of community members' involvement in community policing, stating that although the new police post in Kalimbeza will have at least two police officers, the community plays a larger role.

"The rest of the people that will be here will be members of the community, forums against crimes, the man and woman network, we are talking about youth against crime, we are talking about religion against crime, neighbourhood watch, so we are talking about our informers that are giving information to the police. If we can just do that today, I can tell you that in Zambezi there would be no crime, and in Namibia there would be no crime."

The two-day tournament will end with a price-giving ceremony for various participating sports codes as well as singing and dancing competitions.

The community against crime initiative will also be launched in the region's other seven constituencies.