Namibia’s opens New Military College

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Namibia

President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, has inaugurated the Chinese-funded Namibia Command and Staff College in Okahandja.

The college is will enhance the country’s capacity to train army officers and reduce the backlog of untrained army personnel in the defence force.

President Geingob while speaking to the described the institution as the highest military training institution in the country. “The establishment of the college, a military institution of this magnitude marks another significant milestone in the history of the Namibian Defence Force,” he added.

He said that the college is aimed at providing full knowledge of tactical and operational warfare both at command and staff level and comprehensive understanding of the military’s role within a democratic society.

Acting Chief, Air Vice Marshal Martin Kapolo Pinehas while speaking at the occasion thanked the Namibian and Chinese governments for the financial assistance.

He said the institute will train members of the defence forces as well as open its doors to other ministries and individuals, in a bid to widen their knowledge on security issues.

Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Zhang Yiming, stated that the college will play a important roles in producing high-and-medium level military officers and become a trademark project of China-Namibia friendship.

“China will work with Namibia to further deepen our cooperation and exchanges in the national defense area to cope with the global safety and security challenges shoulder to shoulder,” he added.

The Namibian President and his entourage took a tour of the facilities and visited the library, lab, and syndicate room as well as planted a tree which is symbolic of a new journey.

“Although the college is still at its infancy stage, I hope that its existence will contribute to cost-cutting in terms of training expenditure,” Geingob added.

Namibia over the years made use of training institutes in various countries, like Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.