Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, the spokesperson for the Namibia Defence Force (NDF), has clarified that nine candidates from the Tsumkwe Constituency have been shortlisted for recruitment and that three of them are from the marginalised community.

Shilumbu said that out of the nine shortlisted candidates, one did not report for the selection process.

He also addressed concerns about the quota reserved for marginalised communities, stating that the 4% allocation in the NDF's recruitment translates to about 60 candidates.

According to Shilumbu, the NDF received about 80,000 applications and plans to recruit 1,500 new members.

His remarks follow complaints raised by the chief of the !Kung Traditional Authority, Illony Arnold, who expressed dissatisfaction with the recruitment and selection process. 

Arnold said the San community is not being afforded opportunities in the recruitment drive.