Kapofi demands value for money in defence contracts

Defence minister Frans Kapofi says procurement in the defence ministry must be more transparent, better coordinated and strictly aligned with operational needs, adding that the ministry must eliminate inefficiencies, reduce duplication across services and ensure that every contract benefits the national interest.

He urged the ministry to cut costs by reducing travel frequency and limiting delegation sizes, particularly to curb expenses for daily subsistence allowances, fuel, and vehicle wear and tear.

“Food waste at military bases must also be reduced, if not eliminated. We must live within our means, just as the nation must. We must genuinely live within our means, not just as a slogan but as a core operational principle. An essential part of this change is increasing reliance on our own internal capacities for procurement and infrastructure development,” Kapofi told staff members at a staff meeting on Wednesday.

“In this regard, the Defence Industry must take on a more central and proactive role. Moving forward, it should serve as the primary agency for procurement and logistical coordination within the defence sector. This will enable us to centralise purchasing, standardise equipment, negotiate better prices, and reduce fragmentation among services,”

The minister underscored the importance of precision in military procurement, noting that acquisitions must meet strict specifications.

“There is no such thing as random buying. Everything we acquire must meet precise specifications, such as quality, durability, and thread counts for clothes, boots, and so on. We need to maintain a catalogue with clear specifications. We cannot be buyers who simply walk into a shop and pick items off the shelf. The items we use should be customised to our needs,”

“A stronger Defence Industry will not only enhance military efficiency, but also support Namibia’s wider industrialisation goals by fostering local manufacturing, technical expertise, and supply chains. Skilled personnel are essential,”

Organised crime networks

Kapofi added that while Namibia remains stable, it faces evolving security risks that demand constant vigilance.

“These include cross-border trafficking in drugs, wildlife, and illicit goods, particularly along our northern and western borders; cattle rustling particularly in the Zambezi region, organised crime networks exploiting transit routes through Namibia; maritime security threats, including illegal fishing in our territorial waters, which undermine both our economy and sovereignty; cybersecurity vulnerabilities, which threaten government systems and critical infrastructure,”

“These are not traditional battlefield threats, yet they demand defence readiness, intelligence gathering capabilities and sharing, and inter-agency collaboration,”

Kapofi said delivering capital projects on time and within budget remains a key priority for the year.

“Too often in government, infrastructure projects are delayed, overpriced, or poorly managed. This is unacceptable, especially in the defence sector, where infrastructure directly impacts operational readiness and troop welfare. The Defence Force has skilled engineers, artisans, and technical units capable of constructing and maintaining military facilities. Instead of outsourcing every project, we must strategically deploy our own personnel to build barracks logistics depots, training facilities, and maintenance workshops,”

“This will reduce costs, build institutional capacity, and strengthen self-reliance in line with Vision 2030’s emphasis on skills development and local capacity building. In the same vein, I would like us to begin engaging in food production. I will engage with the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) to explore how we can seriously involve our soldiers in agricultural activities so that we can emerge as proud producers of vegetables, milk, meat, butter, and cheese, among others, branded with our own logo,”

The minister reminded senior leadership that their responsibilities extend beyond routine supervision.

“You are stewards of public resources, protectors of national security, and role models for the next generation of officers and officials. Leadership should be rooted in integrity, discipline, professionalism, and constitutional loyalty. Our officers and officials must not only be competent but also ethical and law-abiding. We also recognise the sacrifices made by our especially defence personnel and their families,”

“The Government remains committed to improving the conditions of service and welfare support for our troops. My deputy and I will continue to advocate within the Cabinet for adequate resources for defence, but we insist on prudent, efficient, and accountable use of those resources. Before I transition to other components of our ministry, I would like to urge you, colleagues in the military, to establish relations with the communities in the local authorities where we live and operate,”

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