On a pitch-black evening in the Havana informal settlement, a mother walked home holding her daughter’s hand.
They stopped suddenly when footsteps echoed behind them. That moment of fear reflects the daily reality for thousands of Namibians.
With a crime index of 63.7 in 2024 and Windhoek ranked as the seventh most dangerous city in Africa, the need to rethink public safety is urgent.
Between 2021 and 2022, Namibia recorded nearly 99 000 crimes, including 324 murders, 1 288 rapes, and 2 743 aggravated robberies.
As Namibia’s towns and cities expand, crime is becoming more frequent, especially in neglected and poorly planned areas.
Petty theft, assaults and gender-based violence often occur where the infrastructure is weak, lighting is poor and public spaces are abandoned.
While police work is essential, it cannot solve this problem alone.
The way our environments are designed has a significant impact on safety. This is where crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) plays a critical role.
DESIGNING OUT CRIME
CPTED is based on a simple idea: well-designed spaces can reduce the chances of crime.
It works by improving visibility, creating a sense of ownership, managing access and encouraging people to watch over public spaces naturally.
Improved lighting is one of the most immediate and effective interventions.
In many settlements, poor visibility at night allows crime to go unnoticed.
People walking to and from homes, schools or clinics are especially vulnerable.
Installing energy-efficient lights and trimming overgrown vegetation can make a significant difference.
This is not just a matter of infrastructure but a way to protect lives.
Maintaining and caring for public areas is also important.
When parks, walkways and open spaces are clean and well-kept, they show that the community is active and alert.
People are less likely to engage in antisocial behaviour in areas that appear cared for.
Community clean-ups and beautification efforts can strengthen social ties while making spaces safer.
Natural surveillance is essential too.
When homes and businesses face the street, they provide informal observation that discourages criminal behaviour.
Obstructed views caused by overgrown plants, broken lights or poor layout can make spaces feel isolated.
Improving visibility increases the sense of connection and community presence.
MIND THE GAP
Despite the proven success of CPTED in many parts of the world, Namibia does not have a national policy or framework that supports it.
Some local initiatives, such as closed-circuit television cameras in Windhoek and community policing programmes, are a step in the right direction.
However, there is no long-term strategy in place.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has not integrated CPTED principles into planning guidelines, and the Namibian Police does not have CPTED-trained professionals.
As a result, crime prevention remains reactive instead of proactive.
LESSONS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
Several African nations have embraced CPTED successfully.
In South Africa, for example, projects at Gauteng Province led to a reduction in crime and stronger public confidence.
These successes were made possible through partnerships between the police, urban planners and local authorities.
In Botswana, parts of Gaborone have benefited from community-driven CPTED elements.
Residents in those areas reported feeling safer, especially where the community was directly involved in making improvements.
These examples show that CPTED is not a luxury or a foreign concept. It can be adapted to local contexts and used effectively in Namibia too.
IMMEDIATE STEPS
Namibia needs a clear and coordinated CPTED strategy.
This approach should bring together national ministries, municipal governments, law enforcement, planners and community members.
Some immediate steps that can be taken include:
- Funding for lighting, paths and vegetation clearing in high-risk areas
- Making CPTED principles part of town planning and building regulations
- Establishing a CPTED task force or specialist unit
- Training urban planners, architects and law enforcement officers
- Involving residents in identifying danger zones and improving public spaces
SAFETY IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE
For countries with limited resources, CPTED offers a practical and cost-effective way to reduce crime and build safer communities.
It lowers the burden on emergency services and creates environments where people can live, work and travel without fear.
Imagine a Windhoek where every child can walk home safely.
Imagine informal settlements that are well-lit and actively used, not left in darkness.
These are not impossible dreams. With the right leadership, they can become our reality.
Every life lost in a dark alley or abandoned building reminds us of the high cost of poor planning.
CPTED gives us the tools to prevent these tragedies.
By investing in safer designs today, we can create urban spaces that reflect care, justice, and dignity.
Safer streets are not just an ideal. They are a right – and one that every Namibian deserves.
- Michael Kavari holds a bachelor of policing practices (honours) and writes entirely in his personal capacity, not as a representative of the police; kkavari10@gmail.com
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