GEOLOGISTS for Petunia Investment Three, a Russian exploration company interested in possible uranium deposits behind Dune 7 in the Dorob National Park, unwittingly found themselves in the middle of a military training exercise being conducted by the Namibian Defence Force’s Rooikop base at Swartkoppies on Friday afternoon – narrowly escaping annihilation.
The managing director of Petunia Investments Three, Elena Repina, told The Namibian that a group of her junior geologists were traveling back home from the site and appeared to be ‘literally under attack’. ‘They estimated the distance between the explosion of heavy artillery ammunition and their car was few hundred metres,’ she said.The crew ‘miraculously escaped’, and approached the group of military officers participating in the exercise but nobody allegedly wanted to talk to the geologists.According to one of the geologists, Johannes Shonghini, they were just driving around in the area as part of their assignment when suddenly there were explosions all around them.’We were a little scared because we could hear the explosions and the ground was shaking. When we approached the group, the one woman just told us that they were not authorised to speak to us, so we just left the area,’ he told The Namibian.Although the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Defence, retired Colonel Clement Mwaala allegedly told Repina that all stakeholders such as the Walvis Bay International Airport were warned about the training, her company had not been informed.’To my understanding the general public was also not informed. The area was not marked with warning boards or fenced. Any local or tourist can visit it as a part of Dorob National Park,’ she said. ‘With or with no training, the area is not safe as well as the surroundings as we find ammunition even a few kilometres outside the proclaimed area.’Mwaala was not available for comment when The Namibian wanted to confirm the incident, but the airport safety and security personnel did confirm that they received a notice from the Defence Ministry that such an exercise would take place.A senior officer at the Rooikop base, who refused to give his name or rank, said if people have a problem they should not run to the media.’They are the ones with the problem, and they know where our base is. They should come to us, not take the matter to the press,’ he said, adding that he has no reason to give any further comment.Kevin Adams of the Walvis Bay Municipality said the NDF usually gives public notice of artillery exercises, but the last such notice was issued last year.
