Niël Terblanché
The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) celebrated its 35th anniversary with a national parade in Grootfontein on Monday.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her role as commander in chief, led the event and reflected on the force’s development since independence in 1990.
She recalled the debate at the time about whether an independent Namibia needed a defence force.
“Thankfully, in the final analysis and as a result of visionary political leaders and the leadership of our Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma, a decision was made to establish a Namibian Defence Force,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the role of early leaders, including Lieutenant General Dimo Hamaambo, in laying the foundation of the NDF.
She said the force was born out of the Policy of National Reconciliation, which brought together former fighters of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia and the South West Africa Territory Force.
“Our appreciation goes to those who pioneered and practically made the integration possible at a time when there was no confidence between these forces,” she said.
Today, the NDF includes the Army, Air Force, and Navy and serves both national and international missions.
“The NDF is very important both at the national and international levels,” she said, urging members to always be ready to serve when called.
She commended the NDF’s record in international peacekeeping, including missions in Cambodia, Angola, Eritrea, Sudan, Liberia, Kosovo, and Côte d’Ivoire. She also noted the force’s role in regional operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said she is proud that women now make up the majority of Namibian officers deployed on missions in South Sudan and Abyei.
She also praised the NDF for its humanitarian work during national disasters. She cited the recent transport of the late Founding President Sam Nujoma’s remains across the country as an example of the NDF’s service to the nation.
To strengthen the NDF, she outlined six priorities: maintaining discipline, improving welfare, advancing training, embracing technology, rejuvenating recruitment, and upgrading combat readiness.
“As your Commander-in-Chief, I am making it clear that I do not want members under my command to put the country’s security at risk,” she said. She urged strict discipline and proper communication within the ranks.
She called for unity and commitment to continue building on the foundation laid by those who came before.
“The ultimate goal must be to steer the NDF and the nation towards a peaceful, united, resilient and prosperous Namibia,” she said.
