Rössing Uranium extended a helping hand to the Namibian Police of Erongo Region, with a donation of N$750,000 to be channeled towards the servicing and upkeep of police vehicles in the towns of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Arandis.
The donation was announced by Rössing Uranium’s Edwin Tjiriange, General Manager for Asset Management and Projects.
Tjiriange highlighted that Rössing has for the past two years assisted the Police with the same donation and has this year moved to solidify the agreement for a three-year term starting in 2024. This translates to N$250,000 per annum until 2026.
“These funds will be utilised for maintenance, (servicing, mechanical repairs and upkeep), of 8 NamPol vehicles from Arandis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, as identified and selected by the office of the Regional Commander,” said Tjiriange.
Amid calls for police to attend to crime reports timeously, upholding this mandate is often cut short by the poor state of police vehicles that are used on a regular basis with very little maintenance. Tjiriange strongly believes the servicing of Police vehicles in the identified towns will expedite police efforts in combating crime.
On a national outlook, Police stations around the country are plagued by a shortage of vehicles. Tjiriange added, “while budgets to purchase new vehicles may not be available at the moment, it is our responsibility as a community and as a corporate to ensure that the vehicles we have are ready to come to the aid of our people.”
Erongo NamPol Regional Commander, Commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona, applauded Rössing for the donation saying the Police is now in a better position to expedite its mandate.
“Police officers rely on the vehicles to respond promptly to emergency situations and to transport them safely to various locations. Thus, ensuring that these vehicles are in good working condition helps to minimise the risk of accidents or breakdowns that could compromise an officer’s safety,” said Kupembona.
The regional commander also added that Police vehicles remain essential for patrolling neighbourhoods, enforcing traffic laws, and responding to emergency calls. “Malfunctioning vehicles can hinder law enforcement operations and create delays in responding to emergencies. By keeping vehicles well maintained, Rössing will enable us to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement efforts,” highlighted Kupembona while extending gratitude to Rӧssing on behalf of the Erongo Police force.