Inspector General (IG), Major General Joseph Shikongo was on Wednesday conferred as the new head of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol), effective 01 September 2022.

Shikongo, who was the deputy IG of operations, took over from lieutenant general Sebastian Ndeitunga, following his retirement on 31 August 2022.

Accepting the IG position during a change of command ceremony at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek, Shilongo said the role is a huge responsibility to ensure public safety and security in Namibia.

“I admit that the instruments of power that I have just received from my predecessor are of substance and inscriptions of high responsibility. I, therefore, pledge to the people of Namibia that I will do everything to the best of my ability to ensure that we deliver on the assigned duty,” he said.

Shikongo said the outgoing IG provided good leadership which should be emulated by the 14000 men and women in uniform to ensure that effectively assigned duties are delivered.

He said a chain of command is key to NamPol therefore police officers should continue improving on discipline and conduct, especially rendering respect to their immediate commanders at all levels to ensure effective safety and security in the county.

Shikongo noted that key items to put effort into include enhancing cooperation with stakeholders both locally and internationally, building the capacity of police officers through training and retraining, as well as to set a new vision for the Force.

“I can only assure you that my vision will be around enhancing capacity through training as well as enhancing partnership, as I humbly accept the new responsibility to lead the Namibian Police Force with humility, honour, dignity, and unwavering patriotism. To serve the people of Namibia equally without discriminating on grounds of race, tribe, gender, religion, political affiliation, and social or economic status,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency