WINDHOEK: Namibia, as United Nations (UN) member country has set a record by sending a high number of women police officers on the UN Missions abroad.
A total of thirty-one (31) female officers were departed two years ago, (two years and four months to be precise) to serve in the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
This was revealed by Inspector-general of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Mutota Ndeitunga, whose official welcoming speech was delivered by Deputy Inspector-General for Operations, Major General Vilho Hifindaka at Police Sports Grong Hall in Olympia on Friday.
“Namibia has set a record once more by being the first UN member country to send a high number of women police in a single mission, he said, adding that we are gathering here today to mark the successful end of the serving of the Namibia Police Force contingents that have just returned from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS and the United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).”
Lieutenant-General Ndeitunga said, “I feel duty bound to welcome you back Home. You served the international community with dedication and commitment.”
According to Ndeitunga, conditions in the peace keeping missions are of complex nature and demand officers who are physically and mentally health, and psychologically ready face challenges obtained in such environment.
“These challenges may include diseases, such as malaria, allergies and many others. Stress and depression are also worsened in these kinds of missions,” he said
Ndaitunga also revealed that the contingent represent Namibia exceptionally well and a result the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations (UN DPKO requested Namibia to send more police officers to replace the contingent that has just arrived back home.
Ndeitunga said that it is also pleasing to note that members of the Namibian Police Force were not only involved in the UN missions as individual police officers, but they also continue to participate in the management of UN Peace Keeping structure at the UN Headquarters’s level. Currently there are two senio officers of Nampol, a Commissioner and a Deputy Commissioner who are seconded to the UN Logistic Base in Brindisi, Italy and United Nations Headquaters in New York, Rule of Law Office respectively.
“We are indeed proud of your performance. Congratulations for the job well done,” he said
Ndeitunga also appreciate the fact that during their service with the United Nations, they were exposed to various policing philosophies and strategies which he expect of them to plough back the skills and experiences that they accumulated in order to provide quality service to the people of Namibia
Inspector-General Ndeitunga wished the police officers a happy re-union with their beloved families.