Africa-Press – Namibia. The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) says all applicants, including those from marginalised communities, will undergo strict medical screening before being recruited.
NDF spokesperson colonel Peter Shilumbu says the 2025/26 recruitment drive will include comprehensive medical examinations to ensure that only physically fit candidates are enlisted.
“The screening process is not aimed at discrimination but at ensuring recruits can cope with military training. Anything we find in the blood that would make you suffer during training means you will not be taken in. We are not training a netball team; we are training soldiers for this country. We don’t want a sick force. Everybody must meet our requirements,” Shilumbu says.
He adds that all applicants, regardless of background, must meet the same standards.
“You may have a marginalised candidate who passes with flying colours – they will be considered. There are requirements, and every candidate, whether from a marginalised group or not, will have to meet them,” he says.
Shilumbu also expresses concern about poor turnout from marginalised communities in previous recruitment exercises.
“This is not the first time we are calling on marginalised groups. We have done this in the past, but people just don’t follow through,” he says.
While the quota is intended to promote inclusivity, some potential applicants have expressed concern that the medical and fitness requirements could exclude capable candidates.
“I understand that the army needs strong people, but some of us have small health issues that don’t stop us from working. If they reject us because of that, it feels unfair,” says a 24-year-old applicant from Otavi, who asked not to be named.
The Office of the President has confirmed that 60 of the 1 500 positions in the upcoming intake are reserved for members of marginalised communities, including the San, Ovatue and Ovatjimba communities.
The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs says applicants for recruit positions must be Namibian citizens aged between 18 and 30, while officer cadets must be between 18 and 25 by 21 November.
Recruits require a Grade 10 or 12 certificate with specified points in subjects including English, while officer cadets need at least 27 points and will take a psychometric test.
All applicants must have no criminal record, be free of tattoos, pass medical, physical fitness and knowledge tests, and submit certified identity documents, birth certificates, educational qualifications, a passport photo and indicate their constituency. Applications from marginalised communities will be forwarded by regional governors to the Office of the President.
In 2011, then deputy minister of defence Lempy Lucas told parliament that the NDF does not recruit HIV-positive individuals due to the strenuous nature of military training.
She said the training could aggravate existing health conditions, but clarified that members who contract HIV while in service receive medical care and are not discharged.
At the time, the NDF faced criticism and even a court challenge over mandatory HIV testing during recruitment. Lucas maintained the policy was not discriminatory but aimed at maintaining military standards. The ministry has since operated voluntary counselling and testing centres at its bases at Grootfontein, Walvis Bay, and Rundu.
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