Namibians Are Not Up For Sale

THIS week the Namibian Government took swift action, deporting two US nationals, one of them a highly decorated former US army officer, also closing down the Namibian branch of Special Operations Consulting-Security Management Group (SOC-SMG), for recruiting Namibians to apply for high-risk jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We, like most other Namibians, commend this move. Hundreds of unemployed Namibians had already begun queuing at the offices of African Personnel Services (APS) to apply for jobs in those war-torn countries for salaries of about N$4 200 per month.SOC-SMG was formed in the US a few years ago to assist government agencies, corporations and multinationals which needed security consulting, investigation and protection services in Iraq and Afghanistan, jobs that are generally considered to be undercover mercenary activities.But Government here quickly acted by deporting two US citizens running the outfit, one of whom had a long and highly decorated career in the US military.The only criticism came from Norman Tjombe, Director of the Legal Assistance Centre, who said that since mercenary activities were outlawed in Namibia, the two should have been prosecuted rather than deported.But like the LAC, we commend the Government for taking the action, consistent with our Constitution and also in compliance with international law.Considering also the massive amounts of money in terms of ‘danger pay’ paid to those who allow themselves to be recruited, it is even worse when one considers that unemployed Namibians were to be preyed upon for far lesser amounts of money to do the dirty work.The US Embassy in Namibia has in the meantime remained mum on the issue.Washington is undoubtedly taken aback that a small country like Namibia has taken such a drastic step, despite millions of US dollars being pumped into our country to fight HIV-AIDS, support education, train members of the Namibia Defence Force and further promises to pour millions into the Namibian economy through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).Namibians cherish their peace and stability after a protracted liberation war, where often brother fought against brother.For decades, the African continent had to serve as battleground for the proxy wars of the West, led by Washington against the “Communists” during the Cold War era.Many African leaders, including Jonas Savimbi of the Unita movement, were US beneficiaries for many years, and so was Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaïre, now DRC.Many Namibians are not sympathetic to the US-led campaign in Iraq.They are also sceptical that the US will ever win that war under the pretext of bringing democracy to the sub-continent, so our people should not be expected to be called upon to guard the US military bases there for relatively meagre amounts, while SOC-SMG and others rake in millions for the contract.Namibia’s ‘no’ to labour hire in this country to serve mercenary purposes is therefore a positive move.Hundreds of unemployed Namibians had already begun queuing at the offices of African Personnel Services (APS) to apply for jobs in those war-torn countries for salaries of about N$4 200 per month.SOC-SMG was formed in the US a few years ago to assist government agencies, corporations and multinationals which needed security consulting, investigation and protection services in Iraq and Afghanistan, jobs that are generally considered to be undercover mercenary activities.But Government here quickly acted by deporting two US citizens running the outfit, one of whom had a long and highly decorated career in the US military.The only criticism came from Norman Tjombe, Director of the Legal Assistance Centre, who said that since mercenary activities were outlawed in Namibia, the two should have been prosecuted rather than deported.But like the LAC, we commend the Government for taking the action, consistent with our Constitution and also in compliance with international law.Considering also the massive amounts of money in terms of ‘danger pay’ paid to those who allow themselves to be recruited, it is even worse when one considers that unemployed Namibians were to be preyed upon for far lesser amounts of money to do the dirty work.The US Embassy in Namibia has in the meantime remained mum on the issue.Washington is undoubtedly taken aback that a small country like Namibia has taken such a drastic step, despite millions of US dollars being pumped into our country to fight HIV-AIDS, support education, train members of the Namibia Defence Force and further promises to pour millions into the Namibian economy through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).Namibians cherish their peace and stability after a protracted liberation war, where often brother fought against brother.For decades, the African continent had to serve as battleground for the proxy wars of the West, led by Washington against the “Communists” during the Cold War era.Many African leaders, including Jonas Savimbi of the Unita movement, were US beneficiaries for many years, and so was Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaïre, now DRC.Many Namibians are not sympathetic to the US-led campaign in Iraq.They are also sceptical that the US will ever win that war under the pretext of bringing democracy to the sub-continent, so our people should not be expected to be called upon to guard the US military bases there for relatively meagre amounts, while SOC-SMG and others rake in millions for the contract.Namibia’s ‘no’ to labour hire in this country to serve mercenary purposes is therefore a positive move.