Frans Kapofi

Three NDF recruits died during training

Three NDF recruits died during training

Stefanus Nashama Three recruits of the 17th intake died during the Namibian Defence Force's basic training. The minister of defence and veterans affairs, Frans Kapofi, made this revelation during the official graduation ceremony of the 17th intake at the Osona Training Base in Okahandja on Wednesday. “It is also unfortunate and regrettable that three recruits passed away during the course of their training,” he said. The three deceased recruits are all from Hardap Region. Two died during training while the other was stabbed to death in Windhoek while on a break. According to NDF spokesperson, Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, some candidates…
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New NDF recruits graduate

New NDF recruits graduate

Niël Terblanché OVER 1000 new Namibian Defence Force (NDF) recruits celebrated their graduation at a spectacular parade at Oshona Base near Okahandja. Speaking at the pass out parade, Defence Minister, Frans Kapofi said the journey of the 1 264 recruits, which began in November last year, took the recruits through a difficult nine months of hard training. “The training was very difficult, and I believe some of you considered quitting at some point, but you persevered, and thus you line up here today, tall and proud,” he remarked. According to Kapofi, the training was divided into three phases that were…
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‘Struggle kids’ too old to benefit, says Kapofi

‘Struggle kids’ too old to benefit, says Kapofi

Hertha-Maria Amutenja Veterans Minister Frans Kapofi today said that incorporating exile kids into the Veterans ministry and ultimately declaring them veterans or beneficiaries would be an impossible thing to do as the so called struggle kids are not 18 years and below. Kapofi said this in an interview with the Windhoek Observer, shortly after receiving the struggle kids’ petition to have them fall under his ministry. He says only children or dependents under the age of 18 can be registered under the ministry. “They wrote a letter and we have explained to them that the law that we are administering…
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Ex combatants call for Veterans Ministry’s audit

Ex combatants call for Veterans Ministry’s audit

Eba Kandovazu THE Chairperson of the former Plan combatants, Matheus Nangolo, has called on Auditor General, Junias Kandjeke, to audit the books of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, alleging irregularities and misappropriation of funds. Matheus was reacting to Frans Kapofi, Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs’ submission in Parliament that only N$ 9,731,809,862 has been spent on all different programmes benefiting veterans of Namibia's liberation struggle since 2010. Kapofi says 30 223 veterans and their dependents are registered with the ministry. “We know that they included their siblings and those that do not even qualify. We know there…
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No special procurement for NDF vaccines

No special procurement for NDF vaccines

Eba Kandovazu GOVERNMENT will not spend additional funds for the procurement of sufficient vaccines to vaccinate all soldiers in the country, following a directive that compels solders to get vaccinated. Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister, Frans Kapofi, says the ministry will make use of the available vaccines in the country. Last week, the Chief of Defence, Martin Pinehas, ordered the compulsory vaccination of all soldiers, as of last Wednesday. Pinehas says soldiers are at liberty choosing their preferred vaccines but only those with medical issues, with hypersensitivity and those allergic to vaccine components would be exempted. “No exemptions based on…
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Geingob appoints new ministers

Geingob appoints new ministers

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has moved Home Affairs Minister, Frans Kapofi, to the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs as Minister replacing Peter Vilho who resigned from the position amid allegations of illicit proceeds in an undeclared Hong Kong bank account. Vilho served as minister for a year and a month, after he was appointed by Geingob in March 2020. Kapofi will be replaced by Albert Kawana as the new Home Affairs Minister. Urban and Rural Development Deputy Minister, Derek Klazen, has been promoted to head the Fisheries Ministry. Former Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, bounces back as…
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Pendukeni demands answers from Kapofi

Pendukeni demands answers from Kapofi

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Former Home Affairs minister, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, has demanded answers from Home Affairs, Immigration and Security Minister, Frans Kapofi, after the minister accused her of being the cause of the current problems facing the ministry. According to the Namibian Sun, Kapofi was not pleased with the credit given to his predecessor for bringing efficiency to the Home Affairs ministry’s operations. “Ask Mr. Kapofi himself, what has collapsed? Is it the computerised system? Is it those who were trained to operate them? What has really collapse?” According to Iivula-Ithana, Kapofi should not just state that things have collapsed with no…
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Namibia opens three border posts with Botswana

Namibia opens three border posts with Botswana

Clifton Movirongo Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Frans Kapofi on Wednesday announced the re-opening of three border points with Botswana, namely the Trans-Kalahari, Ngoma and Mohembo posts. “In terms of Regulations 8(3) (b) of the Public Health COVID-19 General Regulations: Public and Environmental Health Act 2015, I hereby designate the following ports of entry into and departure from Namibia, subject to applicable Health Regulations, effective immediately,” Kapofi said. The move by the Home Affairs ministry comes after the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) killing of the three Namibian brothers, Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo, along with another Zambian…
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Namibia opens more borders

Namibia opens more borders

Clifton Movirongo Namibia has opened four more entry/exit points in the country as it moves to relax its COVID-19 border restrictions in a bid to revive the tourism industry and ease cross-border trade conditions. The move by the Home Affairs ministry comes as Hosea Kutako International Airport was designated as the sole entry/exit point in the country under the tourism revival initiative. “Tourists and travellers can now enter and depart the country by land and sea through the reopened borders, subject to applicable health regulations. The provisions have only been made for Ariamsvlei, Katima Mulilo, and the Noordoewer border posts…
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Close the preferential treatment door

Rules and laws must apply to all, especially during a state of emergency for a global pandemic. There must be no preferential treatment for well-connected billionaires of anyone else. Apparently, Russian billionaire Rashid Sardarov's private jet landed at HK International airport with a crew of people from the outside that were not put in quarantine. The Executive Director in the ministry of works evidently commented that they have recorded increased frequencies of private planes coming in when this is not supposed to be happening. The rich and powerful do not have an inherent resistance to COVID-19. Let the pandemic restrictions…
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