Shalli new NDF chief

IN A major move, President Hifikepun-ye Pohamba on Friday appointed the country’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Lieutenant General Martin Shalli, as the new chief of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF).

Shalli was sent to Lusaka in February last year by former President Sam Nujoma, but Pohamba recalled him to replace Lieutenant General Salomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala, who retires at the end of this month. Shalli was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General shortly before his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force.Pohamba said the Security Commission identified Shalli as the best candidate for the job and recommended his appointment.”In fact, his work history and experience speaks for itself,” Pohamba said of Shalli, who joined Swapo’s military wing Plan in 1974 and immediately underwent training in the former Soviet Union.There he was trained as an anti-aircraft artillery battalion commander before he was appointed as Plan platoon commander the next year.”I have all the confidence that with his professional and service background and dedication, Lieutenant General Shalli will serve our country and people well as Chief of the Defence Force,” Pohamba said.At Independence, Shalli started off as the NDF’s Director of Policy and Operations with the rank of Brigadier General.He was then promoted to Major General and was serving as NDF Chief of Staff at the time of his appointment as High Commissioner.He takes over from Hawala, who has been a controversial figure, especially in view of the debate on people who died or were detained in the Swapo dungeons at Lubango, Angola.Hawala was said to have played a central role in rooting out alleged South African spies from Swapo during the liberation struggle.Hawala headed Swapo’s security apparatus at Lubango, where most of the then liberation movement’s detainees were held in dungeons, and where he became known as the ‘Butcher of Lubango’.Hawala has never publicly refuted accusations that he detained his own comrades, some of whom continue to publicly profess their innocence.During his time in the NDF, Hawala remained out of public life, mainly staying at the Grootfontein army base.Hawala took over from the late Lieutenant General Jerobeam ‘Dimo’ Hamaambo, NDF Chief since its formation in 1990.Shalli was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General shortly before his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force.Pohamba said the Security Commission identified Shalli as the best candidate for the job and recommended his appointment. “In fact, his work history and experience speaks for itself,” Pohamba said of Shalli, who joined Swapo’s military wing Plan in 1974 and immediately underwent training in the former Soviet Union.There he was trained as an anti-aircraft artillery battalion commander before he was appointed as Plan platoon commander the next year.”I have all the confidence that with his professional and service background and dedication, Lieutenant General Shalli will serve our country and people well as Chief of the Defence Force,” Pohamba said.At Independence, Shalli started off as the NDF’s Director of Policy and Operations with the rank of Brigadier General.He was then promoted to Major General and was serving as NDF Chief of Staff at the time of his appointment as High Commissioner.He takes over from Hawala, who has been a controversial figure, especially in view of the debate on people who died or were detained in the Swapo dungeons at Lubango, Angola.Hawala was said to have played a central role in rooting out alleged South African spies from Swapo during the liberation struggle.Hawala headed Swapo’s security apparatus at Lubango, where most of the then liberation movement’s detainees were held in dungeons, and where he became known as the ‘Butcher of Lubango’.Hawala has never publicly refuted accusations that he detained his own comrades, some of whom continue to publicly profess their innocence.During his time in the NDF, Hawala remained out of public life, mainly staying at the Grootfontein army base.Hawala took over from the late Lieutenant General Jerobeam ‘Dimo’ Hamaambo, NDF Chief since its formation in 1990.

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