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A life of service

Michelline Nawatises



Helen Charmaine Gaweses is the head of the project division under the policy, planning and development directorate in the Namibian police.

Deputy Commissioner Gaweses (maiden surname Tsaes) joined the force as a young lady at the age of 21 and started her training 26 years ago at the Luiperds valley training college.

After the completion of her training, she was stationed at the Otjiwarongo police station and a few months later her dedication and commitment was acknowledged, and she was transferred to the criminal investigation unit as an investigator.

She underwent a basic criminal investigation course and thereafter an advanced investigations course and was appointed as a detective. As time went by, Gaweses worked in various offices.

She is a dedicated wife and the mother of four children.

Despite her responsibilities as a mother and wife, she is a committed career woman, not only as a police officer.

She has dedicated herself to her studies and achieved various qualifications, including a national diploma in police science, a bachelor of technology in human resources, a bachelor of business administration in project management and an honours degree in business administration, majoring in project management. She is currently busy with a master’s degree in project management.

Project engagements

In 2010 Gaweses kick-started the facilitation of the development of the police’s strategic management plan for human resources.

From 2011, Gaweses was involved in the development, coordination, implementation and monitoring of the e-policing system.

She and her team trained police officers countrywide in e-policing and how to use the Nampol Automated Biometric Identification System (N-ABIS).

E-policing is defined as the utilisation of technological devices, in order to record, store, analyse and share policing information.

In other words, e-policing entails the automation of the manual processes of capturing, storing and analysing policing data.

Because e-policing initiatives involve creating national databases for case docket management, crime statistics, crime intelligence, geo-policing and motor vehicle clearing certificates, among others, it contributes significantly to the reduction of crime in Namibia.

Gaweses was also involved in the coordination of the Road Safety Integrated Management System (RSIMS) with the National Road Safety Council, which deals with accident reports. This sees accidents reported manually at police stations being automated.

“The system was implemented last year in the Khomas Region only and will be rolled out to the other regions in due course,” Gaweses said.

She further embarked on a benchmarking trip in terms of the e-policing system to Beijing, China and also went to the United States of America for a feasibility study on plea-bargaining in the criminal justice system.

In 2014, she coordinated the traffic management and CCTV system.

She was appointed as the team member spearheading the National Crime Combatting Strategy Project, which will still be implemented in due course.

Gaweses plays a crucial role in the development of most electronic systems in the police force.

She was also appointed as the project manager of N-ABIS and was part of its development and implementation.

This system analyses fingerprints for criminal records and was integrated with an e-docket system for speedy results in terms of criminal cases. This included the analysing and printing of police conduct certificates for work permits and driver’s licences, etc.

Her dedication and commitment resulted in her achieving milestones that did not go unrecognised.

She has received a certificate of appointment as a detective, a recognition medal for 20 years of service and a bravery medal.

Gaweses is a role model to many and she mentors many successful officers. She is a hardworking and an exemplary senior officer. She is humble and always leads by example. She is a vibrant, brave, loving and focused woman, and always strives to achieve her goals and objectives.

Gaweses enjoys sewing and spending time with her family in her free time.