Mubita dismisses claims of low morale in NDF
Mubita revealed that 6 580 personnel were promoted between 2022 and 2024
Deputy defence minister Charles Mubita has rejected claims that members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) are struggling with low morale, insisting that the men and women in uniform remain motivated, disciplined, and ready to defend the country’s sovereignty.
Mubita said the ministry had no indication of any morale crisis within the force, maintaining that “as far as the ministry is aware, the morale of NDF soldiers is high,” and adding that “the men and women in uniform remain ready and committed to defending the country and its interests at all times.”
He was responding to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) lawmaker Isra Peter Kanyemba, who alleged that NDF members were demoralised.
Mubita refuted the claim, explaining that delays in promotions, which Kanyemba suggested were discouraging soldiers, were not deliberate but the result of logistical and financial constraints.
“The delays in promotions are not by design; they are due to factors such as insufficient funds and limited vacancies. As you may be aware, the higher one climbs the corporate ladder, the fewer the available positions become,” he said in parliament last week.
Promotions follow merit-based system
Addressing questions about the criteria for promotion across NDF ranks, Mubita said the process was fair and merit-based.
“The criteria for promotion in the NDF are balanced. They entail consideration of seniority, merit, training, discipline, and the availability of vacancies. We have boards that oversee and approve promotions at the appropriate levels of command. In essence, a member of the Force must serve in a given rank for a certain period, complete the mandatory courses, maintain discipline, and perform well in that rank,” he said.
Providing a breakdown of promotions over the past three years, Mubita revealed that 6 580 personnel were promoted between 2022 and 2024.
During that period, 207 were promoted to warrant officer Class 1, 588 to warrant officer class 2, 980 to staff sergeant, 1 227 to Sergeant, 2 006 to corporal, and 1 202 to lance corporal.
Structured timelines guide military advancement
Mubita said promotion timelines within the NDF were clearly structured and tied to leadership development, experience, and completion of required courses.
A private typically serves two to three years before promotion to lance corporal, while further advancement requires additional years of service, proven leadership, and completion of non-commissioned officer (NCO) training.
“Promotion from Lance Corporal to Corporal takes another two to three years, emphasising small-team leadership. Promotion from Corporal to Sergeant takes about three to four years, requiring proficiency in section command, tactical knowledge, and administrative duties. Advancement from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant takes a further three to four years, demanding strong platoon-level leadership and completion of intermediate NCO training,” Mubita said.
“Promotion to warrant officer class 2 generally requires four to five years, with proven ability to supervise multiple platoons or serve as company sergeant major. Finally, promotion from warrant officer class 2 to warrant officer class 1 takes an average of four to five years, often delayed due to limited vacancies,” he added.
Mubita said the ministry had no indication of any morale crisis within the force, maintaining that “as far as the ministry is aware, the morale of NDF soldiers is high,” and adding that “the men and women in uniform remain ready and committed to defending the country and its interests at all times.”
He was responding to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) lawmaker Isra Peter Kanyemba, who alleged that NDF members were demoralised.
Mubita refuted the claim, explaining that delays in promotions, which Kanyemba suggested were discouraging soldiers, were not deliberate but the result of logistical and financial constraints.
“The delays in promotions are not by design; they are due to factors such as insufficient funds and limited vacancies. As you may be aware, the higher one climbs the corporate ladder, the fewer the available positions become,” he said in parliament last week.
Promotions follow merit-based system
Addressing questions about the criteria for promotion across NDF ranks, Mubita said the process was fair and merit-based.
“The criteria for promotion in the NDF are balanced. They entail consideration of seniority, merit, training, discipline, and the availability of vacancies. We have boards that oversee and approve promotions at the appropriate levels of command. In essence, a member of the Force must serve in a given rank for a certain period, complete the mandatory courses, maintain discipline, and perform well in that rank,” he said.
Providing a breakdown of promotions over the past three years, Mubita revealed that 6 580 personnel were promoted between 2022 and 2024.
During that period, 207 were promoted to warrant officer Class 1, 588 to warrant officer class 2, 980 to staff sergeant, 1 227 to Sergeant, 2 006 to corporal, and 1 202 to lance corporal.
Structured timelines guide military advancement
Mubita said promotion timelines within the NDF were clearly structured and tied to leadership development, experience, and completion of required courses.
A private typically serves two to three years before promotion to lance corporal, while further advancement requires additional years of service, proven leadership, and completion of non-commissioned officer (NCO) training.
“Promotion from Lance Corporal to Corporal takes another two to three years, emphasising small-team leadership. Promotion from Corporal to Sergeant takes about three to four years, requiring proficiency in section command, tactical knowledge, and administrative duties. Advancement from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant takes a further three to four years, demanding strong platoon-level leadership and completion of intermediate NCO training,” Mubita said.
“Promotion to warrant officer class 2 generally requires four to five years, with proven ability to supervise multiple platoons or serve as company sergeant major. Finally, promotion from warrant officer class 2 to warrant officer class 1 takes an average of four to five years, often delayed due to limited vacancies,” he added.
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