Former apartheid soldiers start 140km protest march today

Former members of the South West African Territory Force (SWATF) and the counter-insurgency police unit Koevoet are starting a long march from Okanguati to Opuwo in the Kunene Region today. They are protesting against recent pronouncements by government leaders and what they described as a systematic campaign to portray them in a bad light. The chairperson of the Namibia War Veterans’ Trust (Namvet), Jabulani Ndeunyema, said: “We want to express our unhappiness about President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s statement that if we are not happy with the way we are being treated in an independent Namibia we can go to the bush to start a war against the government.” He said the march is meant to denounce falsehoods being propagated about Namibians who served in the security forces of the pre-independence government. He said there are also allegations that former members of Koevoet and SWATF have set up secret military bases near Opwuo and that they are collaborating with Mishake Muyongo’s secessionists in the Zambezi Region. “Those are all malicious lies and we reject them with the contempt they deserve. We are law-abiding citizens and will continue to air our legitimate grievances in a peaceful manner. “There are some people who would be happy if we were to resort to violence, but we will disappoint them by remaining peaceful. Contrary to some people’s misperceptions, we are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens as we have proved for the past 24 years,” he said. Ndeunyema said the protesters would remain vigilant to make sure that no agent provocateurs infiltrate their march. “We want this march to be peaceful and we will have our own security agents to identify any potential troublemakers, but the task is not easy because the government makes use of our own people to do their dirty work for them. People are hungry and can be recruited to play a dirty game for a few bucks,” he said. Ndeunyema did not have the exact number of people taking part in the 140-kilometre march, but said many former SWATF and Koevoet members had shown interest. The marchers are expected to depart Okanguati this morning and will walk at least 20 kilometres per day. Ndeunyema said the organisers have made all the necessary arrangements with the police. OSHAKATI PLACIDO HILUKILWA