Most of the country's correctional facilities are dilapidated and in outdated condition and are in need of urgent renovation.

This is according to the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, who is calling for urgent reform.

Iipumbu addressed the graduation of correctional officer recruits at Omaruru.

She stressed that some of the correctional facilities were built in the 1920s and are no longer fit for the purpose they were created for.

She said some facilities, like Windhoek, Oluno, and Grootfontein, will require full relocation, and that will need close engagement with key stakeholders to avail land.

Iipumbu revealed that the Swakopmund Correctional Facility is a national monument, and it faces limitations in redevelopment due to heritage regulations.

The facility may need full relocation as well, the minister stated.

Iipumbu called for the prioritisation in the government's capital projects budget to upgrade and urgently renovate some of these facilities.

As the facilities prepare to take over the housing of additional trial-awaiting inmates, she called for adequate budget allocation to facilitate the transition.

Trial-awaiting inmates are currently held in police holding cells, that are not designed for long-term detention.

Another challenge the minister raised is the well-being of correctional officers.

"They work in highly stressful conditions and deserve support through professional allowances, social programs, and mental health services. It should also extend to accommodation infrastructure, especially for those residing outside the specific facilities that we have in various towns. A well-supported officer is better equipped to deliver effective rehabilitation services."

Representing President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the prime minister highlighted the challenges facing the correctional services.

These include factors like shortages in security equipment, uniforms, personnel, accommodation, and transport.

"I am deeply concerned by the risks officers face daily, including theft and physical harm, particularly for those residing in informal settlements who often walk long distances to access transport. To address this, I urge the honourable minister to prioritise the construction of correctional service villages starting in Windhoek and to initiate the development of suitable housing at all correctional facilities."

Dr. Ngurare believes prioritising accommodation is essential to ensuring the safety, dignity, and morale of the officers.