Oshana Police Regional Commander Commissioner Andreas Shilelo has ordered urgent community policing meetings in Okaukamasheshe to combat a spike in crime there.

Okaukamasheshe is located in Oshana's Okatana Constituency.

Commissioner Shilelo outlined these plans during his first police-community engagement, where residents discussed local safety concerns and the proposed establishment of the Andambombali Police Sub-Station. 

The commander revealed that the area has recorded a surge in livestock theft, robbery, malicious damage to property, and assault this year alone.

In a particularly brutal trend, stock thieves are slashing the leg tendons of cattle with pangas before transporting the disabled livestock at night to supply local kapana vendors.

"Crime cases at Okau are too many and might result in loss of lives if not acted upon on time. The work of the police in the country is to protect lives, and if it continues like this, people at Okau might get tired of fighting and start killing each other," Shilelo stated. 

Shilelo urged farmers at Andambombali to establish a farmer's forum to combat the increasing livestock theft. 

The farmers' forum will enter into a memorandum of understanding with the police for convenient communication, concerted efforts and resource sharing between the police and communities. 

"All livestock farmers in this area, those with cattle, let it be widespread, and I will also broadcast it on the radio. You should ensure that in every nearby village here or towards the desert. Let us unite together; let us join hands together and know even in our homes that the cattle are for all of us and not just for who owns them, whether you have two or three."

A community member from Andambombali, Peter Iiyambo, alleged the alarming livestock theft is an organised syndicate between villagers, car owners and those trading in kapana businesses.

"This is not the making of the villagers alone, but there are thieves in the villages that identify where to steal, but the whole thing is a syndicate of thieves from the villages who constantly communicate with buyers and then car owners that transport cattle meat to buyers, as the commissioner alleged."