We need white soldiers’

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba, as Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, yesterday appealed to the country’s white community to join the armed forces.

“All Namibians, black or white, must contribute positively to the defence of our motherland,” Pohamba told the army when he addressed them at the Defence headquarters in Windhoek. “I call upon all members of our community, including those members from our white community, to join the Namibian Defence Force so that our defence force can truly be a force with national representation”.After closed-door discussions with Defence Minister Major General Charles Namoloh, his deputy Victor Simunja and other NDF top brass, which lasted just short of two hours, Pohamba emerged to address staff based in Windhoek.He urged officers and senior staff members of the Ministry to ensure that all citizens are accorded equal access to the force irrespective of their gender or ethnic origin.Pohamba further requested the defence leadership to ensure that the conditions of employment of men and women in the defence force are improved and that concerted efforts are made to address the HIV-AIDS pandemic.Pohamba said since its establishment the NDF had made the nation proud by ensuring peace, security and stability at home while also contributing to world peace outside Namibian borders.Pohamba paid tribute to those who had died or had been injured in the line of duty.”We will never forget your enormous contribution to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our country as well as to the maintenance of world peace,” said Pohamba.The NDF currently has about 1 000 officers deployed in peacekeeping missions in Burundi, Eritrea/Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kosovo, Liberia and Sudan.Namoloh said training took centre stage in the activities of the NDF both during peace and wartime.”Our motto is to train hard and fight easy,” Namoloh told the President.”I call upon all members of our community, including those members from our white community, to join the Namibian Defence Force so that our defence force can truly be a force with national representation”.After closed-door discussions with Defence Minister Major General Charles Namoloh, his deputy Victor Simunja and other NDF top brass, which lasted just short of two hours, Pohamba emerged to address staff based in Windhoek.He urged officers and senior staff members of the Ministry to ensure that all citizens are accorded equal access to the force irrespective of their gender or ethnic origin.Pohamba further requested the defence leadership to ensure that the conditions of employment of men and women in the defence force are improved and that concerted efforts are made to address the HIV-AIDS pandemic.Pohamba said since its establishment the NDF had made the nation proud by ensuring peace, security and stability at home while also contributing to world peace outside Namibian borders.Pohamba paid tribute to those who had died or had been injured in the line of duty.”We will never forget your enormous contribution to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our country as well as to the maintenance of world peace,” said Pohamba.The NDF currently has about 1 000 officers deployed in peacekeeping missions in Burundi, Eritrea/Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kosovo, Liberia and Sudan.Namoloh said training took centre stage in the activities of the NDF both during peace and wartime.”Our motto is to train hard and fight easy,” Namoloh told the President.