RUNDU: Three men were arrested at the Namasira check point in the Kavango West Region on Friday for the alleged possession of seven bags of Gouty Vine plants without the necessary permits.

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in its weekend crime report said the men were allegedly found with 429 kilogrammes of the Cyphostemma bainesii plant, valued at N.dollars 79 288, in their possession.

‘They failed to produce a permit authorising them to harvest the plant and are expected to appear in the Kahenge Magistrate’s Court on Monday,’ it read.

In an unrelated incident, a 27-year-old man was also arrested on Friday for reportedly stealing two donkeys valued at N.dollars 3 000 at Nkurenkuru.

It is alleged that the suspect found the two donkeys grazing behind a shopping complex and allegedly took the donkeys without the owner’s permission.

He was also expected to appear in the Kahenge Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Government is set to expand the Immigration office in Bungoma South Sub-County, Bungoma County with a view of enabling the Department of Immigration to process and issue passports.

The Cabinet Secretary Interior and Administration Kithure Kindiki said that plans were underway to rehabilitate the office and post more Immigration officers, alongside providing adequate equipment for effective service delivery.

The CS regretted the frequent delays in the processing of passports and assured the residents that the government was making every effort to streamline the processing of passports to make it easier and faster for them to acquire the document.

Kindiki who was speaking at the Bungoma County Commissioner’s office after a visit to the Immigration Department Offices in Bungoma South and Lwakhakha today said the reforms would be done by June this year.

On security the CS noted that all strategies had been put in place to enhance the security of the country and said that all security agencies are on board
to achieve this goal to enable people to go on with their daily activities without fear of criminals.

He said the government has a nationwide security enforcement program to rid the country of narcotic drugs, illicit alcoholic drinks and substance abuse that he said was affecting many of the people.

Kindiki expressed concern at the fact that people in the productive age were no longer active as they spent a lot of time drinking and taking substances that were harmful to their health.

He said that the government would crack down on all people who were manufacturing these drinks and substances. ‘We have closed down many unlicensed establishments and destroyed the infrastructure of manufacturing unhealthy dangerous drinks’, he said.

The CS said that all police officers who had served in one station for more than three years would be transferred as a measure towards enhancing security of the country.

He asked all officers who were involved in the law enforcement space aimed at fighting drug and alcohol abuse
to stay away from businesses that can bring conflict of interest. ‘Any officer who runs a bar or any other outlet that sells alcohol must close it’, he said.

The CS said the government was working closely with security agents from the neighboring country to ensure that criminals do not cross on either side of the country.

He said the border point in Lwakhakha was being modernized to have good border trade between Kenya and Uganda and for the security of the people.

Source: Kenya News Agency