NDF confirms members keep livestock in army bases

THE Namibia Defence Force members who are keeping their livestocks in army bases have been told to remove their animals before the end of August 2019.

According to an NDF’s internal communique dated 11 July 2019, signed by the acting chief of the defence force, air vice marshal Martin Pinehas, some members of the NDF were granted permission to keep their cattle in army bases given that they “make transport arrangements to their intended grazing areas”.

However, those individuals, according to the communique decided to keep their livestocks in the army farms “for so long now”.

This is despite the NDF acting spokesperson Petrus Shilumbu having told The Namibian last week that there were no livestocks owned by army generals on the two farms.

Pinehas’ statement also confirms allegations by some communal farmers in the areas of Karibib and Omaruru that some top army generals were grazing their cattle in the NDF two farms, namely Etiro and Oropoko, located between Karibib and Omaruru, that are used for training purposes.

“This situation has become unbearable, therefore individuals who own livestocks [in army bases] must vacate their animals from military bases before 30 August 2019. This exercise should commence upon receipt of this order,” Pinehas statement reads.

When contacted for comment on Friday, Shilumbu told The Namibian to get official comment from “the person who sent it to you”.

“He seems to be the right person to circulate internal information to the public and media. He cut me out,” Shilumbu said.

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