Rössing Uranium extended a helping hand to the Namibian Police in the Erongo region, by assisting with the servicing of their cars.
The mining company this week made a donation of N$750 000 to be channelled 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 at the mine’s corporate office in Swakopmund.
He 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, stretching until 2026.
“These funds will be utilised for maintenance (servicing, mechanical repairs and upkeeping) of eight 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 state of police vehicles, which are often in a sorry state due to their daily use to keep communities safe.
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 police’s 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 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 officers’ safety,” he said. The regional commander 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 when extending gratitude to Rössing for the sponsorship.