President hails unity among NDF’s former war foes
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has lauded national reconciliation as the driving force behind the transformation of former adversaries into a united and professional Namibia Defence Force (NDF).
She said the NDF is now celebrated across the continent for its excellence in peacekeeping.
For 23 years, between 1966 and 1989, combatants of Swapo’s military wing – the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) – fought against apartheid South Africa’s armed forces, including the notorious South West Africa Territory Force (SWATF).
SWATF played a significant role in the South African border war, also known as the Namibian war of independence, which was fought against PLAN, the armed wing of the South West African People's Organisation (Swapo).
The border war resulted in the deaths of approximately 11 335 people, according to sources. This figure includes both military personnel and civilians.
SWATF was disbanded following Namibia’s independence in 1990, when the country’s first president, Sam Nujoma, adopted a policy of national reconciliation. As part of that initiative, former combatants from both sides were integrated into the NDF and other state security institutions, including the police.
PLAN was disbanded in late 1989 as part of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process following the end of the war – a process overseen by the United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG).
Addressing a full military parade in Grootfontein on Monday, her first as commander-in-chief, to mark the 35th anniversary of the defence force, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised that the NDF was "born out of the policy of national reconciliation", a courageous choice at independence that replaced wartime animosity with unity and peace.
"The former opposing forces – the combatants of PLAN and SWATF – were successfully integrated into a single unified command,” she said. “Our gratitude goes to those who led and made this integration possible at a time when trust between the two forces was virtually non-existent.”
She described this unification as a “deep-rooted story of the Land of the Brave” and a beacon for post-conflict societies across the globe.
One nation
Established just three months after independence, the NDF’s formation was not merely administrative but profoundly symbolic, a merging of former enemies into comrades under a single national flag.
Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that the NDF’s journey from mistrust to cohesion reflected the vision of founding president Nujoma, whose call for unity in diversity laid the moral foundation of the Namibian republic.
Quoting Nujoma’s enduring message of “A people united, striving to achieve a common good for all members of society, will always emerge victorious", the president said the NDF’s unity should serve as a model of national identity across all sectors.
That unity was on full display during the anniversary celebrations, with all 14 regions represented at the parade – which the president hailed as “a true reflection of the unity in diversity of our motherland”.
In her address, Nandi-Ndaitwah also stressed the importance of discipline, professionalism and loyalty to command structures, warning that “whatever you say can be used by opponents” as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with wearing the uniform.
Since its inception, the NDF has earned continental and global recognition, having contributed troops to United Nations and African Union peacekeeping missions in Cambodia, South Sudan and beyond. Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored that this international trust stems directly from the cohesion built at home.
Looking ahead, she reaffirmed government's commitment to modernising the military and strengthening regional cooperation, including through the upcoming 'Tswaragano II' joint exercise with Botswana.
“The unity forged in 1990 remains the bedrock upon which all future progress must be built,” she said. “With discipline, shared purpose and pride in our collective identity, the NDF will continue to stand as the shield of the nation.”
She said the NDF is now celebrated across the continent for its excellence in peacekeeping.
For 23 years, between 1966 and 1989, combatants of Swapo’s military wing – the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) – fought against apartheid South Africa’s armed forces, including the notorious South West Africa Territory Force (SWATF).
SWATF played a significant role in the South African border war, also known as the Namibian war of independence, which was fought against PLAN, the armed wing of the South West African People's Organisation (Swapo).
The border war resulted in the deaths of approximately 11 335 people, according to sources. This figure includes both military personnel and civilians.
SWATF was disbanded following Namibia’s independence in 1990, when the country’s first president, Sam Nujoma, adopted a policy of national reconciliation. As part of that initiative, former combatants from both sides were integrated into the NDF and other state security institutions, including the police.
PLAN was disbanded in late 1989 as part of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process following the end of the war – a process overseen by the United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG).
Addressing a full military parade in Grootfontein on Monday, her first as commander-in-chief, to mark the 35th anniversary of the defence force, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised that the NDF was "born out of the policy of national reconciliation", a courageous choice at independence that replaced wartime animosity with unity and peace.
"The former opposing forces – the combatants of PLAN and SWATF – were successfully integrated into a single unified command,” she said. “Our gratitude goes to those who led and made this integration possible at a time when trust between the two forces was virtually non-existent.”
She described this unification as a “deep-rooted story of the Land of the Brave” and a beacon for post-conflict societies across the globe.
One nation
Established just three months after independence, the NDF’s formation was not merely administrative but profoundly symbolic, a merging of former enemies into comrades under a single national flag.
Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that the NDF’s journey from mistrust to cohesion reflected the vision of founding president Nujoma, whose call for unity in diversity laid the moral foundation of the Namibian republic.
Quoting Nujoma’s enduring message of “A people united, striving to achieve a common good for all members of society, will always emerge victorious", the president said the NDF’s unity should serve as a model of national identity across all sectors.
That unity was on full display during the anniversary celebrations, with all 14 regions represented at the parade – which the president hailed as “a true reflection of the unity in diversity of our motherland”.
In her address, Nandi-Ndaitwah also stressed the importance of discipline, professionalism and loyalty to command structures, warning that “whatever you say can be used by opponents” as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with wearing the uniform.
Since its inception, the NDF has earned continental and global recognition, having contributed troops to United Nations and African Union peacekeeping missions in Cambodia, South Sudan and beyond. Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored that this international trust stems directly from the cohesion built at home.
Looking ahead, she reaffirmed government's commitment to modernising the military and strengthening regional cooperation, including through the upcoming 'Tswaragano II' joint exercise with Botswana.
“The unity forged in 1990 remains the bedrock upon which all future progress must be built,” she said. “With discipline, shared purpose and pride in our collective identity, the NDF will continue to stand as the shield of the nation.”
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