Africa-Press – Namibia. Namibian Defence Force (NDF) air marshal Martin Pinehas has refuted claims that the late general Salomon Hawala was ‘a butcher of the people’.
Speaking at a memorial service for Hawala held at Ohakeenyanga village on Tuesday, Pinehas dismissed the allegations as untrue and that they aimed to discredit the former military leader.
He acknowledged that during the liberation struggle, Hawala had been accused of being involved in the detention and torture of alleged spies in Swapo camps in Lubango, Angola.
“When a person is of value, then people will find reasons to badmouth and discredit a person,” Pinehas said.
He urged mourners to recognise Hawala’s sacrifices during the liberation struggle, stating that Hawala inspired many to join the movement and was a “beacon of hope”.
Pinehas also used the occasion to criticise the attitude of Nepando Amupanda, former president Sam Nujoma’s bodyguard, who he felt was not using the correct channels to address the alleged wrongdoings of leaders.
In his own tribute, Amupanda had called for leaders to be held accountable, warning that they might “sell the country away” if not watched closely. He also encouraged young people to focus on inheriting Hawala’s legacy rather than on material possessions.
Responding to Amupanda’s comments, Pinehas stated that society should be held responsible for who they elect to oversee the military.
“We are not going to sell this country, that should not even cross your mind,” Pinehas declared, emphasising that they “have not lost their way.”
He stressed that any corrections or criticisms should be made through proper channels by engaging with officials.
The memorial service featured a tribute from Mwahafar Ndilula, who spoke on behalf of Hawala’s friends.
Ndilula praised Hawala as a “true son of the Namibian soil” who was instrumental in producing some of the country’s finest commanders. Ndilula added that a key lesson learned from Hawala was the importance of treating subordinates fairly and being truthful, a principle that helped shape them into good leaders.
Hawala, a veteran of the liberation struggle, died last month at the age of 89. He left Namibia in 1964 for military training in Tanzania, North Korea and the Soviet Union. He became a prominent figure in the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia, serving as deputy commander and chief of security.
After independence, he became the first commander of the Namibian Army in 1990 and later served as the chief of the NDF from 2000 until his retirement in 2006.
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