By: Annakleta Haikera
A growing number of Rundu residents are expressing concern over the town’s increasing crime rate, blaming it in part on poor street lighting across several suburbs in the Kavango East Region.
They say the lack of functioning lights has turned many areas into danger zones, especially after dark, and are urging local authorities to act swiftly.
“The town is too dark at night and criminals take advantage of this,” said Johannes Anton, a local resident.
“People get mugged on their way home from work or church. You can’t walk alone, even if it’s not that late,” Anton added.
Another resident from the Millennium Park location, Maria Lucas, echoed these fears.
“We don’t feel safe anymore, thieves break into homes or snatch phones in the shadows; you scream, and no one even sees what’s happening,” she lamented.
The lack of street lamps has not only heightened fear, but also affected local livelihoods.
“Some of us close early because customers are afraid to come out at night,” said Martin Lucas, a business owner near the Kasote area.
“It’s affecting our income and our way of life,” he continued.
These concerns are backed by statistics from the Namibian Police, which show that the Kavango East Region recorded 3,024 criminal cases over a two-year period ending in July 2025. Of these, theft was the most common, accounting for 1,367 cases.
In response, residents are calling on the Rundu Town Council and relevant ministries to prioritise the repair and installation of street lights in crime-prone areas.
Some have also demanded increased police patrols and improved community policing.
“We just want to feel safe again,” said a mother of three. “Our children can’t even go to the shop after 7 p.m. without fear,” she added.
When contacted for comment, Rundu Town Council Chief Executive Officer, Olavi Nathanael, acknowledged the concerns, stating that the town’s darkness is largely due to the increasing vandalism of street lights by some residents.
Despite the challenges, Nathanael confirmed that plans are underway to electrify the town’s main roads and other unlit areas.
“We have plans in place to install lights along main roads and in locations that have never had proper lighting. This is part of our broader vision to make Rundu a safer and more functional urban space,” he said.
He also mentioned that the recently renamed UNAM Rundu campus road – Dr. Samuel Kaveto Mbambo – will also soon benefit from street lighting upgrades.
Nathanael urged residents to protect public infrastructure and report acts of vandalism to authorities.
