Geingob lauds PLAN, Koevoet unity in NDF
Adversaries have buried the hatchet
The erstwhile enemies form a huge part of the national army.
President Hage Geingob, the commander-in-chief of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF), has lauded unity within the country’s military force – which encompasses former foes such as the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) of Swapo, and South West African Territorial Forces (SWATF) and para-military group Koevoet, who fought on the side of apartheid South Africa.
Geingob made the remarks during a defence parade in Grootfontein over the weekend.
These erstwhile enemy groupings are not recognised within the NDF, Geingob said, despite the force drawing its membership from many of them at independence.
“The pioneers of the NDF, some of whom are here at this parade, were drawn from the erstwhile opposing combatants of PLAN, SWATF and Koevoet,” he said.
“Names such as PLAN, SWATF and Koevoet, which remind us of our painful past and history, are no longer mentioned among the rank and file of our defence force, because that distinction - which divided our nation - no longer exists.”
Namibia has a united defence force, not one shaped by past military groupings, the president said.
“Our united and national defence force is not defined by any political allegiances, any racial or tribal barriers, but is reflective of the Namibian House in which no Namibian is left out.”
Great strides
According to Geingob, Namibia has also been able to shake off its colonial past in pursuing a national development agenda.
“Thirty-three years after independence, we can all attest to the fact that the Namibia of 1990 is in no way comparable to the Namibia of 2023. We have taken great strides and made significant inroads in pursuit of our developmental agenda. We stand here, proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the Namibian people and the NDF,” he said.
This was only achievable because of the national reconciliation policy adopted by the Swapo-led government, Geingob said.
“We owe this remarkable achievement to the visionary leadership of the Swapo Party government which introduced the policy. That policy has served as the glue in uniting our nation across tribal, racial, cultural and ethnic divides,” Geingob said.
“The national reconciliation policy has ensured that, today, we are proudly ‘One Namibia, One Nation’ focused on consolidating the gains of our independence by building, strengthening and governing a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary state that is founded upon the principles of democracy, the rule of law and justice for all,” he added.
United in purpose
Members of the NDF are reminded not to divide themselves into groupings, but to remain united in purpose, Geingob said.
“As men and women in uniform, you are the shield of the nation. You stand sentinel, guarding our democracy.
“Therefore, you should remain one in purpose, character and action,” he said.
Geingob made the remarks during a defence parade in Grootfontein over the weekend.
These erstwhile enemy groupings are not recognised within the NDF, Geingob said, despite the force drawing its membership from many of them at independence.
“The pioneers of the NDF, some of whom are here at this parade, were drawn from the erstwhile opposing combatants of PLAN, SWATF and Koevoet,” he said.
“Names such as PLAN, SWATF and Koevoet, which remind us of our painful past and history, are no longer mentioned among the rank and file of our defence force, because that distinction - which divided our nation - no longer exists.”
Namibia has a united defence force, not one shaped by past military groupings, the president said.
“Our united and national defence force is not defined by any political allegiances, any racial or tribal barriers, but is reflective of the Namibian House in which no Namibian is left out.”
Great strides
According to Geingob, Namibia has also been able to shake off its colonial past in pursuing a national development agenda.
“Thirty-three years after independence, we can all attest to the fact that the Namibia of 1990 is in no way comparable to the Namibia of 2023. We have taken great strides and made significant inroads in pursuit of our developmental agenda. We stand here, proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the Namibian people and the NDF,” he said.
This was only achievable because of the national reconciliation policy adopted by the Swapo-led government, Geingob said.
“We owe this remarkable achievement to the visionary leadership of the Swapo Party government which introduced the policy. That policy has served as the glue in uniting our nation across tribal, racial, cultural and ethnic divides,” Geingob said.
“The national reconciliation policy has ensured that, today, we are proudly ‘One Namibia, One Nation’ focused on consolidating the gains of our independence by building, strengthening and governing a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary state that is founded upon the principles of democracy, the rule of law and justice for all,” he added.
United in purpose
Members of the NDF are reminded not to divide themselves into groupings, but to remain united in purpose, Geingob said.
“As men and women in uniform, you are the shield of the nation. You stand sentinel, guarding our democracy.
“Therefore, you should remain one in purpose, character and action,” he said.
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