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 conceal their medical conditions out of a need for work. He said that this may have contributed to their deaths.
“It is important to say candidates must be medically fit. But some candidates hide their conditions because they want employment, which may eventually result in death,” Shilumbu explained.
He added that if a person has a medical problem and hides it, the body will react because the training is not easy.
Out of the 1 434 recruits who started their basic training, 1 387 completed it.
“Their journey was not easy as the initial screening had disqualified some while forty (40) of them either voluntarily opted out or were disqualified during the final screening conducted here at the Namibian Defence Force Training Establishment,” he said.
Kapofi said the ministry is committed to rejuvenating NDF with young and energetic people.
“We are working hard to realise the vision of having a small, well trained, and well equipped professional force that excels in the fulfilment of its mandate,” he said.
According to him, this transformation aimed at conditioning the men and women in the military to think differently and deal with emerging threats.
“This is the reason why we take seriously the compliance of prospective soldiers to the set recruitment requirements,” he said.
He also mentioned that the need for an educated soldier is today more important than ever before.
Kapofi emphasised the need to advance technology in the military.
He said both the state and non-state combatants are applying the latest technologies, which include digital and cyber technologies.
“The battlefield is now dominated by autonomous vehicles such as drones, while modern surveillance technologies impede freedom of movement and concealment,” he stated.
This, he said, is the reason why Namibia has undertaken to transform the NDF for better services.
He believes that by developing soldiers and equipping them with the right technology, he can explore possibilities and methods of providing necessary infrastructure and reducing expenditure.
Kapofi said the ministry has improved the living conditions of the soldiers.
“We have realised that some segments of our society are reluctant to join the force because they feel that the living conditions in the bases are not that favourable to them.
“We would like our modern soldiers to live in conditions that are attractive so that our force would be all-inclusive and a reflection of a united nation,” said Kapofi.
