Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Defence, and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi has said that the reform process of August 26 Group of Companies that started in 2018 is gradually bearing fruits, adding that some of defence industry companies are contributing positively towards supporting the army or making goods which are sought internationally.
Kapofi during his budget vote statement in parliament, highlighted that Strategic industries vital to sustained economic growth and national security need to be given renewed emphasis.
Kapofi added that his ministry will seek to enhance the capacity of the Defence Industry in order to pursue strategic projects to attain a certain level of self-sustenance and self-sufficiency.
“Our soldiers are now wearing uniforms produced from a revitalised August Twenty Six Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd, August Twenty Six Construction (Pty) Ltd is growing in leaps and bounds as proven by the schools and hostels that it has constructed in record times at a minimal cost,” Kapofi said, while giving examples of defence companies that are doing well.
He added that SATCOM (Pty) Ltd. has become a world class producer of military radios that are sought after in Africa and Asia and expanding, while August 26 Logistics (Pty) Ltd is soon to be wholly owned by government and continues to provide excellent services to its clients.
“The new Boards of Directors and Management Teams of these companies are really doing a commendable job. The Windhoeker Maschinen Fabrik (WMF 1998) (Pty) Ltd and Agro-tour Initiatives are the entities whose revival is expected to be completed in the new year. The Defence Industry, if well capacitated and capitalised, has the potential to create employment and contribute to economic growth,” Kapofi said.
In conclusion, Kapofi said that the military is one of the instruments of power at the hands of the State, the others being the economy, diplomacy and information.
“All four are important and are also intertwined. You cannot have one and not have the other. I therefore want to leave you with a quote from H.E. Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation who said: “We cannot have stability and development and guarantee the future of our people without peace”. It must therefore be our responsibility as law makers to make it the National agenda to ensure that any gains on the economic front shall be accompanied by sustained efforts to modernise the Namibian Defence Force in order for it to effectively uphold the peace and stability which is the necessary condition for national development” Kapoi quoted.
He thus urged the Members of Parliament to approve the allocation of Six Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety- One Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-Seven Thousand Namibia Dollars (N$6,291,947,000) to Vote 08: Ministry of Defence.
