New military bases planned for Defence Force

LITTLE has changed over the last year at the dilapidated military bases around the country, Minister of Defence Charles Namoloh told the National Assembly last week

Despite a Parliamentary Standing Committee confirming the poor state of the country’s military bases and their outdated weaponry and vehicles, still not enough money has been allocated to fix the situation. The Ministry of Defence receives the second largest chunk of the National Budget after Health in the amount of N$1,3 billion.But Namoloh said the renovation of bases over the past year had been limited due to insufficient funds.The MoD now plans to build new military bases around the country including at Luiperdsvallei outside Windhoek, Osona near Okahandja, Keetmanshoop, Karibib and a naval base at Walvis Bay.Feasibility studies are also underway into the establishment of new bases at Oluno, Gobabis and Oshivelo.A reconstruction programme for old bases is also budgeted to start during the 2006-07 financial year.”The Ministry of Defence knows and understands fully that if everything becomes a priority then there is no priority.It is also our conviction that economic development of our country should reign supreme.”To achieve that, however, a conducive environment should be created and maintained, hence peace and stability should be in place before everything else becomes a reality,” said Namoloh when he motivated the MoD’s budget on Thursday.More than 70 per cent of the defence budget goes towards paying the salaries of soldiers.Namoloh told MPs, however, that it had to be borne in mind that the employment of NDF members contributed to poverty alleviation and the reduction of unemployment.Last year the Ministry of Defence began increasing the salaries of its army personnel from the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel down to Private.But Namoloh said the money allocated last year had not been enough to complete the adjustments.Through this year’s budget, it is hoped the exercise will be completed and give rise to a new NDF salary structure.Namoloh said the improvement of salaries for the Air Force, Navy and medical personnel had improved their morale and confidence.”I am therefore happy to inform you that the exodus of specialised service members to other institutions has drastically reduced after the said improvements,” said Namoloh.Namoloh also expressed concern about the health of his forces, saying it was well known that armies the world over were at high risk of being exposed to HIV-AIDS.In his view, the lack of living quarters for married NDF members could be one of the contributing factors to the prevalence of the pandemic among the force.He said it was not known what the percentage of infected members is.”We cannot be complacent because this scourge does not only claim human lives but it also negatively affects the nation’s military capability,” Namoloh said.The Ministry of Defence has drawn up an action plan to address the challenges of the epidemic, particularly among new recruits.Although the NDF is prohibited from discriminating against its members based on their HIV status, they are required to undergo such a test before taking part in UN peacekeeping missions.The UN does not pay for any loss of life resulting from pre-existing ailments.”Health issues are truly a challenge in the daily endeavours of the NDF.Given the conditions within which soldiers operate, it is therefore imperative that all efforts which are being made to preserve their health status should be supported,” said Namoloh.Namibia currently has 600 peacekeepers stationed in Liberia as well as staff in Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Kosovo and Sudan.Namibia was paid N$69 million by the UN up until August last year for the NDF’s participation in the peace process in Liberia.Namibia has to pay for the maintenance of the soldiers while they are abroad and is reimbursed afterwards.Transport costs were also causing a strain on the NDF’s budget, with the few, old vehicles in its possession costing a lot in fuel consumption and maintenance.Namoloh said there was a need to buy both administrative and combat vehicles to enhance the mobility of the force.The acquisition of modern weaponry is also necessitated by the fact that spare parts were no longer available for the weapons the NDF inherited from Swapo at Independence.The commissioning of the Air Force and the Navy also increased the need for the acquisition of modern vessels and aircraft equipped with weapon systems.”Our territorial airspace and water have been vulnerable for a long time.It is therefore high time that the two Arms of Service are afforded the surveillance and defence capabilities to ensure overall protection of our territory,” said Namoloh.The NDF plans to establish a military academy at Okahandja to enhance its defence capacity and reduce dependency.During this year, several officers will be sent for training abroad in preparation for running courses at the academy.The Ministry of Defence receives the second largest chunk of the National Budget after Health in the amount of N$1,3 billion.But Namoloh said the renovation of bases over the past year had been limited due to insufficient funds.The MoD now plans to build new military bases around the country including at Luiperdsvallei outside Windhoek, Osona near Okahandja, Keetmanshoop, Karibib and a naval base at Walvis Bay.Feasibility studies are also underway into the establishment of new bases at Oluno, Gobabis and Oshivelo.A reconstruction programme for old bases is also budgeted to start during the 2006-07 financial year.”The Ministry of Defence knows and understands fully that if everything becomes a priority then there is no priority.It is also our conviction that economic development of our country should reign supreme.”To achieve that, however, a conducive environment should be created and maintained, hence peace and stability should be in place before everything else becomes a reality,” said Namoloh when he motivated the MoD’s budget on Thursday.More than 70 per cent of the defence budget goes towards paying the salaries of soldiers.Namoloh told MPs, however, that it had to be borne in mind that the employment of NDF members contributed to poverty alleviation and the reduction of unemployment.Last year the Ministry of Defence began increasing the salaries of its army personnel from the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel down to Private.But Namoloh said the money allocated last year had not been enough to complete the adjustments.Through this year’s budget, it is hoped the exercise will be completed and give rise to a new NDF salary structure.Namoloh said the improvement of salaries for the Air Force, Navy and medical personnel had improved their morale and confidence.”I am therefore happy to inform you that the exodus of specialised service members to other institutions has drastically reduced after the said improvements,” said Namoloh.Namoloh also expressed concern about the health of his forces, saying it was well known that armies the world over were at high risk of being exposed to HIV-AIDS.In his view, the lack of living quarters for married NDF members could be one of the contributing factors to the prevalence of the pandemic among the force.He said it was not known what the percentage of infected members is.”We cannot be complacent because this scourge does not only claim human lives but it also negatively affects the nation’s military capability,” Namoloh said.The Ministry of Defence has drawn up an action plan to address the challenges of the epidemic, particularly among new recruits.Although the NDF is prohibited from discriminating against its members based on their HIV status, they are required to undergo such a test before taking part in UN peacekeeping missions.The UN does not pay for any loss of life resulting from pre-existing ailments.”Health issues are truly a challenge in the daily endeavours of the NDF.Given the conditions within which soldiers operate, it is therefore imperative that all efforts which are being made to preserve their health status should be supported,” said Namoloh.Namibia currently has 600 peacekeepers stationed in Liberia as well as staff in Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Kosovo and Sudan.Namibia was paid N$69 million by the UN up until August last year for the NDF’s participation in the peace process in Liberia.Namibia has to pay for the maintenance of the soldiers while they are abroad and is reimbursed afterwards.Transport costs were also causing a strain on the NDF’s budget, with the few, old vehicles in its possession costing a lot in fuel consumption and maintenance.Namoloh said there was a need to buy both administrative and combat vehicles to enhance the mobility of the force.The acquisition of modern weaponry is also necessitated by the fact that spare parts were no longer available for the weapons the NDF inherited from Swapo at Independence.The commissioning of the Air Force and the Navy also increased the need for the acquisition of modern vessels and aircraft equipped with weapon systems.”Our territorial airspace and water have been vulnerable for a long time.It is therefore high time that the two Arms of Service are afforded the surveillance and defence capabilities to ensure overall protection of our territory,” said Namoloh.The NDF plans to establish a military academy at Okahandja to enhance its defence capacity and reduce dependency.During this year, several officers will be sent for training abroad in preparation for running courses at the academy.