‘NDF must remain strong’

“We are not discriminating, we are trying by all means to remain a strong and reliable force,” the ministry”;s deputy executive director, major general Petrus Nathinge, said at a press conference in the capital yesterday.

The ministry says it will not adjust the required age limit of from 25 years to 30 years for acceptance either.

Nathinge yesterday said he was puzzled by the fuss over the HIV test requirement, adding that for bilateral and multilateral activities undertaken by the NDF, a negative HIV test is in most cases a requirement.

“The advert says to undergo a comprehensive medical test, including HIV-AIDs. Nothing is left out,” he said.

“We are not discriminating. We just made it clear that yes, indeed there is a requirement for an HIV test,” he said.

Nathinge said testing for HIV and all other medical conditions are essential, because military training is an arduous undertaking involving physically straining activities, which sometimes cause injuries.

“The NDF as an instrument of foreign policy is expected to participate in bilateral and multilateral activities where a negative HIV test is in most cases a requirement,” he said.

Nathinge said Covid-19 vaccination is a mitigating and preventive measure against the spread of the pandemic.

“During military and fitness training activities it is not advisable for one to wear a mask as it may lead to oxygen deprivation, resulting in suffocation,” he said.

On Tuesday NDF public relations officer colonel Petrus Shilumbu said they are not forcing anyone to get vaccinated.

Shilumbu rubbished widespread perceptions that the requirements for NDF applicants to be vaccinated against Covid-19 is a government scam to increase vaccinations.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is currently the only single-dose Covid-19 vaccine available in Namibia.

All other vaccines require two doses to be deemed fully vaccinated. Before the announcement of the NDF recruitment, the number of J&J single doses administered between 3 and 6 July was 478.

Since the announcement on 7 July, over 2 600 J&J jabs have been administered in the country up to Tuesday.

This is according to the daily Covid-19 vaccination report from the health ministry.