WINDHOEK: The Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has urged commanding officers to put succession plans in place in order to guarantee a smooth transition following their retirement.

He voiced his dissatisfaction with some senior police officers who fail to identify potential successors but instead request an extension of their service.

‘It is regrettable that within our organisation, there are still people, and when it’s time for your retirement, you come to the inspector general and ask that you please give me one more year. And if you ask the reason why, they say no, I have not paid off my car or house. And on top of that, I have nobody to take over from me. But you have been commanding people for 20 or 10 years, and you have not prepared somebody to take over from you. Leadership is about preparing others,’ he said.

Shikongo made the observation during the second phase of the police mass promotion at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College here on Wednes
day.

‘So today if anybody comes to me and says Shikongo, who is taking over from you, I don’t think I will hesitate to say yes; all these officers are qualified because they are prepared,’ the inspector general said about the importance of succession plans.

Shikongo promoted 911 officers to various ranks, including chief inspectors, inspectors, senior inspectors, warrant officers 1 and 2, as well as sergeants 1 and 2. Out of those promoted, 421 are female, representing 46 per cent.

The police chief said the promotion was enabled by the continuous government effort in law enforcement.

‘While the government continues to play its role in providing the necessary resources through budgetary allocation, it is the duty of all of us to ensure that we complement what the government is doing by redoubling our efforts to deliver quality law enforcement services,’ said Shikongo.

To the newly promoted officers, Shikongo stressed that ‘a promotion should not be seen as a mere decoration or just a reward to an officer
or a member, but it comes with huge responsibilities over their shoulders; these include a high level of accountability, commitment, command and control, and honesty in upholding the rule of law.’

Source: The Namibia Press Agency