Patience Makwele Defence and veterans affairs Minister Frans Kapofi has warned that further delays in inaugurating the Cassinga Memorial could see the completed facility deteriorate and increase costs for both Namibia and Angola. The warning comes as the joint Namibia-Angola project has reached about 99% completion, nearly nine years after construction began. Kapofi made the […]

Patience Makwele Defence and veterans affairs Minister Frans Kapofi has warned that further delays in inaugurating the Cassinga Memorial could see the completed facility deteriorate and increase costs for both Namibia and Angola. The warning comes as the joint Namibia-Angola project has reached about 99% completion, nearly nine years after construction began. Kapofi made the remarks on Wednesday in Lubango, Angola, following a joint inspection of the Cassinga Memorial Park and a six-day meeting of the Namibia-Angola Joint High-Level Committee. “Further delays in the inauguration of the memorial could result in deterioration of the already completed facility which in essence would invoke additional cost for both governments,” Kapofi said. The memorial is now substantially complete, but several outstanding issues remain, including the engraving of names of the victims of the 1978 Cassinga massacre. Kapofi also raised concerns over the fading and peeling of the national coats of arms at the memorial, while water supply and wildfire prevention remain among the outstanding matters requiring attention. “The coats of arms of both countries are fading and peeling off, and this requires urgent attention. We also need to address the water supply and wildfire prevention measures to ensure that the memorial is properly maintained,” Kapofi said. The two governments have committed to completing the remaining works and inaugurating the memorial at the earliest mutually convenient opportunity, although no inauguration date has been announced. The memorial is being built at the site of the 4 May 1978 attack by South African apartheid forces on Namibian refugees in southern Angola. According to the joint statement issued by both countries during the meeting, more than 900 Namibian refugees, mostly women and children, were killed and buried in mass graves at the site. Kapofi said construction had been affected by unintended interruptions, including the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges. “After close to a decade of the memorial park’s construction, it is utterly gratifying to finally see that, officially, the construction phase of the park is substantially completed,” he said. Angola’s minister of national defence, former combatants and veterans of the homeland, General (Rtd.) Lúcio Gonçalves Amaral, said the outcome of the meeting would provide a basis for amendments to the bilateral agreement governing the memorial. “The outcome of this meeting will serve as a basis for the necessary amendments to the bilateral agreement, so that the significance of the Cassinga Memorial is respected, preserved and passed on to future generations,” Amaral said. He however did not specify which provisions would be amended, saying the changes would ensure the significance of the Cassinga Memorial is respected and preserved. Amaral also stressed that the memorial should not only preserve the physical site, but should house documents, photographs, testimonies and other historical material for research and presentation. Kapofi said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah had indicated her readiness to co-inaugurate the memorial once an invitation is extended by Angolan President João Lourenço. The ministers also agreed on the need for interim arrangements to preserve and manage the memorial immediately after its inauguration. “We have agreed that interim measures must be put in place to protect and manage the memorial immediately after the inauguration, while the long-term management arrangements are finalised,” Kapofi said. The Cassinga project was jointly initiated by Namibia and Angola in 2017 to honour those killed in the attack and preserve the shared liberation history of the two countries. The latest engagement was the ninth technical visit and third high-level meeting on the project.

Amupanda affronte Kapofi plus de 3 millions de dollars volés à la construction du 26 août [Informanté]

Staff Reporter THE recently concluded Annual Sports Games of the Namibian Defence Force, NDF, went beyond medals and trophies to strengthen unity, teamwork, discipline, physical fitness and the fighting spirit of the force, Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs Frans Kapofi said. The week-long 11th edition of the event took place in Grootfontein, Otjozondjupa Region, and brought together athletes from all NDF services, formations and units across nine sporting codes. --- Photos: NDF --- Speaking at the closing ceremony on Sunday, the minister urged athletes to carry the lessons learned on the sports field into their military duties, particularly the values of teamwork, resilience, fair play and professionalism. He also highlighted the Games’ role in strengthening relations between the NDF and civilian communities, and expressed appreciation to the people of Grootfontein and the Otjozondjupa Region for their warm hospitality and support. Minister Kapofi congratulated all participants and champions, reminding them that “true victory lies not only in trophies, but in unity, discipline, integrity and service to the nation.” He commended this year’s organisers, the Namibian Special Forces, and all stakeholders whose dedication ensured the successful hosting of the Games. The 12th edition of the NDF Games will be hosted by the Namibian Navy next year. The post NDF Sports Games promote unity and discipline beyond competition — Kapofi appeared first on Informanté.

 Ten senior ministers have been dropped from their positions after failing to secure spots on president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s handpicked National Assembly list. Following their exclusion from Swapo’s electoral college list last year, some ministers had hoped for appointment through Nandi-Ndaitwah’s discretionary eight-member selection. However, only former defence and veteran affairs minister Frans Kapofi was retained. The outgoing ministers include Peya Mushelenga, formerly the minister of international relations and cooperation, and Tom Alweendo, who served as the minister of mines and energy. Others who are out are Itah Kandjii-Murangi, the former minister of higher education, Yvonne Dausab, previously the minister of justice, and Agnes Tjongarero, former minister of sport, youth and national service. The long-serving Utoni Nujoma, who held the position of minister of labour, industrial relations and employment creation, has also been left out. Christine //Hoebes, the former minister in the presidency responsible for presidential affairs, also won’t be making a comeback. //Hoebes reportedly asked Nandi-Ndaitwah to consider her for the position of secretary to Cabinet, which does not require her to be a member of parliament. However, this could not be verified. Erastus Uutoni, who served as the minister of urban and rural development, and Obeth Kandjoze, who served as director general of the National Planning Commission and minister of economic planning, have also exited Cabinet. Anna Nghipondoka, who led the Ministry of Basic Education, Arts and Culture, is out as well. The eight National Assembly members handpicked by the president for the new administration include former deputy minister of works and transport James Sankwasa and former Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture executive director Sanet Steenkamp. Diplomat Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, medical doctor Esperance Luvindao, Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund company secretary Fillemon Immanuel, former defence minister Frans Kapofi, former Ministry of Finance executive director Ericah Shafudah and scholar and technocrat Mac Albert Hengari have also made the cut. Speaking to The Namibian after her swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, Steenkamp said she looks forward to her new role. “It’s a great honour. I’m truly grateful to president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for the confidence she has in me and nominating me as one of the eight. I’m looking forward to vibrant and in-depth discussions in parliament. With the right energy and the right mindset, we will be able to do justice and serve with the required integrity,” Steenkamp said. The post Ten senior ministers out of Cabinet appeared first on The Namibian.

Afropages recense l’actualité africaine. Nous proposons une sélection de liens vers des sources d’informations rédigées par nos partenaires de référence.

KAPOFI CLARIFIES NATIONAL HONOURS SYSTEM NBC Online Fri, 08/28/2026 - 16:29

The government says Namibia's national honours system is meant to recognise service and exceptional achievement, not privilege, political connections or favouritism. Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs Frans Kapofi provided the clarification as the country commemorated Heroes' Day on August 26. But a political analyst says the country may need to rethink what it means to be a hero given the evolving realities. The National Honours System provides for formal orders, decorations and medals to recognise distinguished service to the country. This year, more than one thousand Namibians received Liberation and Independence Medals, joining thousands recognised for their contribution to freedom and development. Minister Kapofi says the selection process begins at the community level, where regional governors are expected to identify people who meet the required criteria. "They're supposed to really look at people who have excelled, who have distinguished themselves from among others, and who have done something to deserve recognition by the head of state. It is not a preserve of some. But you see, when you are requested to look into your community and to produce those that deserve to be recognised, you should not play Mickey Mouse." Kapofi defends the system as designed to be inclusive, with veterans qualifying once their participation in the liberation struggle is verified. But he also raised concerns over the time given to regional authorities to identify deserving candidates. 'It is better not to do anything than to do just as I was requested. It's better not to do anything if you are not sure about what you are about to do. It's an honourable way to say, unfortunately, this time, we did not find someone because the time we had was not enough. Instead of you just sending names, say, Ah, there's Kapofi here, there's the agenda, and we might just give. No. It needed time." Apart from the Heroes status and liberation medals, the honours system includes distinctions such as the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun for meritorious service, the Most Excellent Order of the Eagle for diplomatic service, the Order of the Mukorob for meritorious military service and the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia. Political Analyst Rui Tyitende, however, contends that recognition must also speak to the changing realities of the country. He says this is because younger Namibians face challenges that differ sharply from those of the liberation generation. "The struggle for Namibia's political and economic independence did not end on the 21st of March 1990. It has evolved. It has moved from law to systems. It has moved from segregation to inequality. We now need to reclassify and actually reconceptualise what it means to be a hero. The criteria. Who gets to be a hero? Is it because you put Namibia on the worldwide net? Is it on account that you have been able to improve the living conditions of the Namibian people?" The debate now places the honours system between two considerations: preserving recognition for those who shaped liberation while ensuring that national service and achievement remain relevant to future generations. -

Staff Reporter THE Namibian Defence Force Vocational Training Centre (NDF VTC) has graduated its first intake, with Defence Minister Frans Kapofi calling for greater use of vocational skills to strengthen the NDF, reduce unemployment and support economic and industrial development. The graduation ceremony was held at the Namibian Defence Force Training Establishment in Okahandja, Otjozondjupa Region. The NDF VTC opened its doors in 2020 and enrolled its first students in 2021, offering Level 3 vocational training in air-conditioning and refrigeration, bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and pipe fitting, as well as welding and metal fabrication. Officiating at the ceremony, Kapofi said vocational education was important in developing a modern defence force equipped with a diverse range of practical skills. “There is a misplaced conception that the military is solely about guns and warfare. However, with programmes of this nature, we are challenging such narratives and proving that a complete and modern force needs to have soldiers with a diversity of skills to make it formidable,” Kapofi said. He said vocational education could contribute to reducing unemployment, addressing critical skills shortages and boosting economic growth. Kapofi urged the NDF to make use of the newly qualified artisans within its own structures rather than outsourcing work that could be performed by trained personnel. “You will agree with me that most countries in the Global South are now putting much emphasis on the importance of vocational education. This is because of the undisputed realisation that vocational education reduces unemployment, fills critical industry skill gaps and boosts economic growth,” he said. Kapofi also pointed to Germany’s vocational education system, which combines classroom-based learning with paid workplace apprenticeships, as an example of how technical training can help create pathways from education to employment. Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Martin Kambulu Pinehas, congratulated the graduates on completing their training despite the challenges they faced. “I want to salute you for having endured the challenges, the pain, the difficulties, remaining steadfast, keeping your eye on the ball. And for that, we congratulate you and we thank you,” Pinehas said. As recognition of their achievement, Pinehas announced that all graduates would receive promotions to the next substantive rank, effective from the day of the graduation. He instructed the relevant NDF structures to finalise the documentation required to implement the promotions. Graduate Lance Corporal Lydia Nampadhi encouraged her fellow graduates to apply their newly acquired skills in service of the NDF. “As we step out of these training rooms and into our respective industries, we carry more than just certificates. We carry the precision of our hands, the sharpness of our problem-solving, and the resilience we built right here,” Nampadhi said. “We arrive as students, but we leave as professionals and artisans, ready to build, fix, create and lead,” she added. Kapofi also presented awards to the top-performing graduates. Corporal Steven Nepela was recognised as the best achiever in carpentry, while Lance Corporal Lydia Nampadhi took second place for plumbing and pipe fitting. Lance Corporal Tuhafeni Haipinge was recognised for third place in welding and metal fabrication. The graduation marks the first group to complete training since the NDF VTC began enrolling students in 2021, highlighting the NDF’s efforts to expand technical and vocational skills within the defence force. PICTURED: Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi. Photos: The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs The post NDF expands technical skills with first graduates appeared first on Informanté.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah concluded a high-stakes engagement with the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) service members, demanding a high level of professional competence while pledging the government's commitment towards the welfare of soldiers. As Commander in Chief of the NDF, she acquainted herself with the establishments to understand the operational needs and the current state of the force. The President was accompanied by Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi, Finance Minister Erica Shafudah, Minister in the Presidency Dr Charles Mubita, Director General of the National Planning Commission Dr Kaire Mbuende and the President's Economic Advisor, Shali Shindume. During her visit, each Service and Formations, presented their manuals of strategic plans, highlighting their terms and conditions under which they operate. In her acknowledgement, Dr Nand-Ndaitwah was satisfied with the level of military ethics displayed by members of the NDF. “On this, I wish to assure you that, as resources permit, the challenges facing NDF and all its Arms of Services including 21 Infantry Brigades, will continue to receive attention within the broader framework of strengthening and modernising the military. Our objective remains the establishment of a professional, mobile, well-equipped and motivated force that is capable of responding effectively to both conventional, unconventional and emerging security challenges. The 8th Administration remains committed to improving the welfare and working conditions of our soldiers because a nation that values its defenders must also invest in their well-being, dignity, and combat capabilities.” The Head of State implored NDF members to continue upholding the standards and disciplines of the military. "Wars cannot be won by undisciplined soldiers. Discipline and tidiness must be the order of the day. A military base reflects the standards and pride of its occupants. Cleanliness, orderliness, and the proper maintenance of our infrastructure are not merely cosmetic matters." Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, Chief of Defence, reassured the President that the NDF will continue to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to defending the country and safeguarding its natural resources. “When the oil and gas will start to flow, the threat level against our country will increase, hence the need to think strategically how we can put the Defence Force in the posture that is commensurate with the envisaged threat level. I am grateful, Your Excellency, that your visit to your troops has shed light on the NDF's capability and readiness to defend this country.”

Allexer Namundjembo Defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi says the grievances raised by liberation struggle veterans camping outside the Swapo Party headquarters do not fall within his ministerial mandate, rejecting calls to personally visit the protesters. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Monday, Kapofi said the group is not seeking assistance on matters related […]

Allexer Namundjembo The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi of sidestepping concerns over protesting liberation struggle veterans, saying he misrepresented a parliamentary question that called for direct intervention rather than an explanation of veterans’ benefits. IPC shadow minister of defence and veterans affairs Aloisius Kangulu told […]

Allexer Namundjembo Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi, has rejected suggestions that veterans currently camped outside the Swapo Party headquarters are at odds with the government, saying they continue to receive all benefits and support due to them despite their ongoing protest. Kapofi made the remarks in the National Assembly following concerns raised […]

Patience Makwele Defence minister Frans Kapofi says the Namibian Defence Force has not taken over presidential security, despite reports of a breach at State House. Kapofi dismissed claims that the military had assumed responsibility for protecting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. “It is not true; as far as I’m concerned, that is not the case. The ministry […]

Namibia’s Acting Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Frans Kapofi, on Tuesday tabled a notice in the National Assembly for an urgent amendment

Justicia Shipena  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the new Ankit Gems Namibia Diamond Cutting and Polishing Factory will strengthen the country’s manufacturing base. She added that it will also promote resource diversification and create jobs for young people. Her remarks were delivered on her behalf by the acting minister of industries, mines and energy, Frans Kapofi, […]

Namibia’s President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has appointed Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi Acting Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy.

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The office of the President and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs have been warned  against accepting military assistance from the United States to counter alleged jihadist groups near Namibia’s border with Angola. Social commentator Ben Mulongeni  urged President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and defence minister Frans Kapofi to be cautious, arguing that U.S. […]

Defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi says Namibia remains calm and stable, with no major threats to national security detected over the past year.

Defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi has dismissed claims of corruption in the ministry’s procurement processes, stating that all acquisitions follow legal procedures and are subject to oversight.

afropages.fr - Les responsabilités de Kapofi étendues par le président [Informanté]