The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi, has called on the defence forces to step up training and remain combat-ready at all times.
He made these remarks during a reception parade for the Namibian contingent to Mozambique at Hanganee Katjipuka Barracks in Windhoek on Friday.
While applauding the contingent, Kapofi urged all members of the defence forces to emulate the fighting spirit shown by NDF pioneers, who had previously succeeded in executing external missions against well-established enemy forces.
The clarion call was made following the recent withdrawal of SADC forces from Mozambique.
However, Minister Kapofi was quick to point out that Namibia did not send combat troops to the Mozambican mission as part of the SADC mission, not to advance war but to promote peace in that country as per the decision of the SADC Defence Committee.
"Many of the people of that province of Mozambique returned to their home villages and towns. Of course, we were ready to stay the course if it was necessary, but the arrangement was that there had to be a drawdown of troops from SADC countries. Namibia is not the only country that had troops there, as I have said, there were many others. They are returning to their own home countries after successfully completing the mission assigned to them."
In response to the SADC Extra-Ordinary Troika Summit held in Maputo, Namibia assigned its first group of Staff Officers in February 2022 to Mozambique.
Upon arrival from Mozambique, the second contingent reported its mission accomplishments to Minister Kapofi.
The Defence Chief, Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, has reiterated the call for readiness by Minister Kapofi, urging NDF Service Chiefs to explore more areas of training and capacity building for their soldiers.
The intensity of security threats, particularly in the SADC Region, Pinehas says, should serve as a wake-up call for the NDF to double efforts in upgrading the standard of the force.
"The successful completion of this mission is a clear manifestation and testimony of Namibian Defence Force readiness to be deployed and carry out tasks anywhere in the world whenever it is required to do so, for the purpose of maintaining peace and stability. In order to undertake these tasks, training during peacetime is of paramount importance. Attending to the equipping of the force is important in order for our forces to be able to carry out the tasks assigned to them. I am therefore directing all service commanders and chiefs of staff to intensify training in accordance with my training directives to ensure that our force always remains ready to carry out the orders and instructions of our Commander in Chief."
The objective was to form part of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in order to assist the Mozambican authority in combating terrorism and acts of violent extremism in Cabo Delgado.
Colonel Gebhard Amukwata, the contingent commander, underscored the benefit for Namibia of participating in SAMIM.
"Experience is one in terms of counterterrorism, doctrine, and concept, and off course in terms of interoperability with other forces from sister member states, and off course to understand the terrorism and its effect comprehensively so that the experience we gain from this mission we will plough back and share with our colleagues in the Namibian Defence Force so that we will be able to enhance our force capability and readiness to respond to any secret threat."