Staff Reporter

THE persistent trend of gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women and children in Namibia is deeply worrying, said Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu on Monday.

She was speaking during the inauguration of the Chief Christian Eerike Zeraeua Police Station in Omatjete Settlement, Erongo Region.

The minister pointed to the latest crime statistics, which show that crimes committed against women and children are on the rise, and that the Erongo Region is among those severely affected.

“Let me be clear,” she said. “GBV is a violation of human rights, a betrayal of our cultural values, and a direct attack on our national principles. It must not be tolerated, excused, or hidden.”

She said that a holistic and firm approach is required to address the scourge of GBV.

“I therefore call upon our traditional leaders, church leaders, community leaders, and indeed every resident to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Namibian Police Force in combating crimes of violence, especially against women and children. We must speak out. We must support survivors. We must challenge harmful norms. And we must ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. Silence and indifference are no longer options,” she said.

Turning to the event itself, Minister Iipumbu said that inaugurating a police station is not just about opening a new building; it is about affirming — in very clear terms — the government’s resolve to bring safety, justice, and dignity closer to the people.

She also said that naming the police precinct after the late Chief Christian Eerike Zeraeua was a powerful and deliberate act of remembrance.

“Chief Zeraeua was not only a traditional leader; he was a visionary whose life’s work centred on protecting his people, uniting communities, and advancing their socio-economic wellbeing,” she said, adding that by bearing his name, the police station becomes more than a centre of law enforcement.

“It becomes a living monument to his legacy of courage, integrity, and service. It will stand as a constant reminder to present and future generations of the values he embodied, and it should inspire both officers and community members to uphold justice, peace, and solidarity in the Erongo Region and beyond.”

The new station comprises a charge office with eight offices, a boardroom, an interview room, record rooms, walk-in safes, and holding rooms. It is further supported by oxidation ponds, two three-bedroom houses, and two barracks offering ten rooms for males and six rooms for females.

In addition, the facility includes a cell block with three holding cells, dining areas and a kitchen, two mortuary cabinets with an office and viewing area, a borehole to ensure a reliable water supply, as well as a filling station with two 30,000-litre diesel and petrol tanks, among other facilities.

“These are not just structures and equipment,” said the minister. “They are tools of service. They are here so that our officers can perform their duties professionally, and so that the people of this area can access policing services with dignity and predictability.”

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