Unemployed youth in Keetmanshoop have raised their concerns and demanded a halt to the interviews of shortlisted police cadets in the ||Kharas Region.

They claimed that the recruitment shortlisting process is discriminatory and disadvantages the young people of the region.

The youth organised a march to the Police Regional Headquarters in Keetmanshoop, where they handed over a petition expressing their condemnation of the shortlisting process, alleging that it was discriminatory towards the native southerners of the region.

The Oshana Region has since January this year recorded 260 cases of Gender-Based Violence.

Chief Inspector Kaarina Shiimi says 61 rapes were reported in the region, of which 25 victims are children.

During the same period last year, the region recorded 258 GBV and 41 rape cases of which 20 were children.

Some victims of gender-based violence (GBV) have resorted to reporting cases to the traditional authorities instead of the police in order to get compensation.

This came to light during a meeting between the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development, and Family Affairs at Otjiwarongo.

Otjiwarongo has recorded 29 cases of rape and 98 domestic violence cases since last year.

The police at Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Region, are concerned about the possible health hazard at the station emanating from an overflowing manhole.

The station commander, Inspector Charles Mayumbelo, says that the manhole has been overflowing for years.

Mayumbelo says the blockage and overflow have now become a weekly problem with no permanent solution.

"We have to make sure that prisoners are removed from cell to cell; it's also a health hazard to them like us, so that's why we are appealing to whoever is concerned to come to our rescue."

The Inspector General of the Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, says drug abuse in Namibia is a growing concern and is responsible for increased criminal activities happening in many communities.

The Inspector General of the Namibian Police says more than 4,000 inmates are awaiting trial for drug-related crimes.

Substance abuse is an enormous social problem in the country. Many young people are introduced to drugs through their peers.

Police in the Kavango East Region visited numerous schools in the region as part of Operation Genesis.

During their visit, the police educated the learners on crime prevention and the importance of self-discipline.

Kavango East Acting Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner Eino Nambahu, says the school visiting programme is part of the police's responsibility.

The Acting Regional Commander says after the campaign he wants to see crime records reduce drastically.

Police in the Oshikoto Region have detained over 30 Angolan nationals and issued several traffic fines since the launch of Operation Genesis.

The operation aims to clamp down on crime and road accidents in the region and has intensified the maintenance of law and order both in urban and rural areas.

The Head of Operation Genesis, Deputy Commissioner Wynand Neels, says the force will continue to set up sporadic roadblocks across the region to ensure total compliance with road traffic rules.

The drive for the police recruitment process closed today.

Applicants had mixed emotions as they all hoped to secure a uniform.

There are 750 vacancies up for grabs.

Requirements are that one should be in possession of an authentic Grade 12 or Grade 11 certificate with 25 points or higher from six subjects, including English with an "E" symbol or higher.

The Namibian Police have conferred 51 officers, 30 men, and 21 women, from all 14 regions with new ranks.

However, due to distance only 23 could attend the official event in Windhoek, with the rest being conferred by their respective regional commanders.   

The official conferment was done by Acting Inspector General, Major General Anna-Marie Nainda in the absence of Police Inspector General, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo.

The police at Rundu is investigating a case in which a 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped by four boys at Ndama on Thursday.

Acting Namibian Police Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner Eino Nambahu, told Nampa that the incident reportedly took place at around nine o'clock in the evening next to the fish shop at Ndama.