The wave of crime flowing across the country has unsettled communities and puzzled experts.
And despite efforts by law enforcement agencies, the government and community leaders, all seem to be fighting a losing battle.
But enter Ninja, and former world boxing champion Harry Simon. Now there is hope and renewed faith that crime can be fought successfully.
This faith is a result of Faith Foundation.
Faith Foundation was in 2020 registered with the National Welfare Board of Namibia as a welfare organisation.
The Foundation is committed to promoting the welfare of vulnerable and at-risk youth by initiating targeted prevention interventions and lobbying for the establishment of treatment centres, safe house accommodation facilities and vocational training centres with partnerships of the state, local authorities and other stakeholders.
“Our aim here is to pass on the message; we are soldiers on the ground in fighting crime and poverty,” said Mr Dennis Tobias, the founder and chairman of Faith Foundation.
Tobias was speaking at a press conference where Paulus Ninja Shimwefeleni and Harry Simon announced a rematch of their disputed first boxing match which took place last December in Windhoek.
Harry Simon and Ninja will headline a boxing bonanza taking place on 14 June at the Oshakati Independence Stadium.
Tobias said that the two fighters have the influence in the ring and outside to be able to send a clear message to the youth that crime does not pay.
With Ninja, who only tasted freedom last year after 26 years and nine months in jail, and Harry Simon, who also spent some time in prison at the time when he was at the peak of his boxing career, have what it takes to bring down the tide of criminal activity in the country, Tobias said.
Through holding hands with various stakeholders such as the ministries of safety and security, of education and youth, of health, and of gender, the non-profit organisation has visited schools and prisons to speak to school children about the dangers of drug abuse and involvement in criminal activities, as well as to speak to offenders about the dangers of reoffending.
The proceeds from the Harry Simon vs Ninja boxing bout at Oshakati will go to funding a research to get data and statistics on crime in the country, which will provide the best evidence-informed interventions to prevent juvenile-related crimes, reduce re-offending, protect the public and enable sustained desistance from offending and anti-social behaviour.
In the photo: Mr Dennis Tobias, the founder and chairman of Faith Foundation, at the Harry vs Ninja bout launch and press conference in Ongwediva recently.
