Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has acknowledged that there is a motor vehicle challenge in the force.

Speaking at the ministerial press conference on the Mariental car accident, where 16 people were killed, including police officers, Shikongo said the vehicle shortage has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the government to redirect funds to other priority areas at the expense of acquiring vehicles.

The police chief said that NamPol received about N$92 million for the 2023/24 financial year and purchased about 113 vehicles.

This, he said, is not enough, as the force is still without sufficient vehicles to meet its operational needs.

"In the subsequent year we got an increase; we got N$98 million, and we purchased 146 vehicles, and this year we have been allocated N$102 million, with which we will buy 163 vehicles."

Shikongo also revealed that there are several police stations around the country operating without a single vehicle.