Police vehicles shortage causes three-year halt in border patrols 

By: Selma Taapopi

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has not conducted regular patrols along several national borders since 2022, as no official vehicles have been allocated to border officials, while those available are not fit for patrols.

This finding was revealed in a report by the National Council’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional and Legal Affairs, following its visits to selected border posts between 18 August and 9 September 2025.

The committee’s chairperson Philemon Ndjabula informed the National Council this week that routine border patrols have not taken place since 2022, including Mata Mata, Klein Manasse, Sarasungu,, Katima (Wanela), Ngoma, among others.

The committee noted that although the Ministry of Home Affairs received funding to address the shortage of vehicles required for border operations and patrols, it failed to prioritise the allocation of these vehicles to the affected border posts.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs accelerate the operationalisation of the five additional border posts that have already been gazetted to help curb illegal cross-border activities.