_: WINDHOEK: Namibia has set an international record by sending the highest number of female police officers on United Nations’ (UN) missions abroad.
A total of 31 female officers were sent to serve in the United Nations’ Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the United Nations’ Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) two years and four months ago.
This was revealed by the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol), Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, whose official welcoming speech was delivered by the Deputy Inspector-General for Operations, Major-General Vilho Hifindaka, at the Police Sports Hall in Olympia today.
During an occasion to mark the return of the NamPol contingents from Darfur and South Sudan, Neitunga said Namibia has set a record once more by being the first UN member country to send a high number of women police officers on a single mission.
Ndeitunga said the officers served the international community with dedication and commitment.
He revealed that the contingents represented Namibia exceptionally well, and as a result, the United Nations’ Department of Peacekeeping Operations requested Namibia to send more police officers to replace the contingents that have just arrived back home.
Namibia’s 400m sprinter at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Tjipekapora Herunga, today qualified for the semi-finals after ending third in Heat Four.
Herunga qualified in a time of 52.31 seconds.
She finished behind Sanya Richards-Ross from the USA (51.78), and Carol Rodriques from Puerto Rico (52.19).
The Namibian’s personal best is 51.24.
The Olympic record is 48.25, and the World record is 47.60.
The 400m semi-finals are tomorrow, and the final on Sunday.