GROOTFONTEIN: The Namibian President who doubles as Commander in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) Hifikepunye Pohamba says his government will provide needed resources in building the air force of the country.
Pohamba said this on Friday morning at the 10th anniversary of Namibia’s Air Force (NAF) at the military air base here in the Otjozondjupa Region. He said since the air force members have a scary duty for defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests of the country his government will continue to build its capabilities.
“I must say as head of this state that my Government will do everything possible in availing whatever needed resources for our Air Force, Navy and the Army,” he stressed. Pohamba even said that the Namibian armed forces has been so principled that in the past years it participated in international peacekeeping missions in Asia and in some African countries like Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Liberia among others.
However, Pohamba said since Namibia enjoys its peace and tranquility now, his government will also see to it that it remains like that and build its economy. He said wars which were fought in Namibia were only meant to liberate the country from its colonial handcuffs.
“I believe in peace and stability as pre-requisites for the economic development and social progress for this country,” he said. He quickly added that economic development and social progress will never take place in an atmosphere of conflict and war.
“It is for this reason that I urge the leadership and the men and women of this institution to re-dedicate themselves to the core values of the Air Force and its mission and vision,” stressed Pohamba.
Pohamba also promised that Namibia will still remain a committed state to the promotion of world peace and security.
“It is for this reason again that Namibia has contributed troops and other personnel to peacekeeping operations around the world,” he said. Pohamba in conclusion thanked all those countries like the People’s Republic of China for co-operating with his government in providing assistance towards establishment of the Namibian’s Air Force.
The Commander of the Namibian Air Force, Vice-Marshal Martin Pinehas concurred with Pohamba’s belief. Pinehas said his team will also continue to develop Namibia’s air forces to its best capabilities required to fully defend the country’s airspace. Pinehas then thanked the Namibian Government and the Ministry of Defence for providing unwavering support to his department.
He said the NDF Air Force was founded in June 2002 by Founding President Sam Nujoma initially as an NDF Air wing. Since then it has been the forerunner of today’s Air Force which was commissioned by Nujoma on 23 June 1994. The 23 June 1994 was then known as the Air Wing Day until March 2005 when Nujoma commissioned the NDF Air Wing into a fully-fledged Air Force, retrospectively to 2002, when it was then officially declared that 23 June should continue to be commemorated as the Namibia Air Force Day.
Pinehas thus says as this has been the case, the Air Force turned 10 years on 23 June 2012, which was only observed on Friday at Grootfontein Military Air Base.
(edited)GROOTFONTEIN; Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who doubles as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, says his government will provide the needed resources to build the country’s air force. Pohamba said this on Friday morning during the 10th anniversary of the Namibian Air Force at the Grootfontein Air Base in the Otjozondjupa Region.
“I must say as head of this state that my government will do everything possible in availing whatever needed resources for our Air Force, Navy and the Army,” he stressed. Pohamba said the Namibian Armed Forces have been so principled that in the past years it participated in international peacekeeping missions in Asia and in some African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Liberia among others.
However, he said since Namibia enjoys peace and tranquility now, his government will see to it that it remains like that. The Namibian leader said wars that were fought in Namibia were only meant to ‘liberate the country from its colonial handcuffs’.
“I believe in peace and stability as prerequisites for economic development and social progress for this country,” he said. Pohamba quickly added that economic development and social progress will never take place in an atmosphere of conflict and war.
“It is for this reason that I urge the leadership and the men and women of this institution to re-dedicate themselves to the core values of the Air Force and its mission and vision,” stressed the president.
Pohamba also promised that Namibia will remain a committed state to the promotion of world peace and security.
In conclusion, Pohamba thanked all those countries like the People’s Republic of China for cooperating with his government in providing assistance towards the establishment of the Namibian Air Force.
Commander of the Namibian Air Force, Vice-Marshal Martin Pinehas concurred with Pohamba, saying his team will also continue to develop Namibia’s air force to its best capabilities required to fully defend the country’s airspace.
Pinehas then thanked the Namibian Government and the Ministry of Defence for providing unwavering support to his department. The Namibian Air Force was founded in June 2002 by Founding President Sam Nujoma initially as the Namibian Defence Force Air wing. Since then it has been the forerunner of today’s Air Force which was commissioned by Nujoma on 23 June 1994.
The 23 June 1994 was then known as the Air Wing Day until March 2005 when Nujoma commissioned the NDF Air Wing into a fully-fledged Air Force, retrospectively to 2002, when it was then officially declared that 23 June should continue to be commemorated as the Namibia Air Force Day.
Pinehas thus said the Air Force turned 10 years on 23 June 2012, which was only observed on Friday at the Grootfontein Air Base.