Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIAN Defence Force (NDF) chief Martin Pinehas has questioned why soldiers are always dying after army vehicles experience tyre bursts.
He was speaking yesterday at the memorial service of three NDF members who died in an accident near Omuthiya last Wednesday.
He said a year ago a similar accident occurred near Rundu, where two soldiers died in a car accident.
“The circumstances leading to these accidents are similar. Always tyre bursts. It’s not easy to lose soldiers because soldiers take time to prepare, to develop and once you lose a soldier, you have lost not just a person but the skills, experience and the willingness to defend the motherland,” Pinehas said.
He said the loss of any soldier is a big loss for the force.
“The whole day was just a dark day for me because I know as a defence force, losing such a great number of soldiers is a big loss,” he said
Pinehas said what is more saddening is that the three soldiers did not lose their lives in battle, but rather on the road.
While they are asking for God to help them, the soldiers must also dig deeper into their souls to find what it is that they are doing tight and what they are doing wrong that is contributing to all the incidents.
“I want each and everyone of us at whatever level you are in the NDF and the defence ministry to think about what you are doing that is contributing to these chains of accidents,” he said.
He also questioned why the cause of death always seemed to be a burst tyre.
“We can ask God throughout the 365 days, but if we are not going to act to prevent further losses, we are going to continue gathering like this to mourn more soldiers,” Pinehas said.
He asked leaders in key positions of the NDF to make decisions that will ensure the safety and preservation of life, and which will allow soldiers to do their jobs.
“Let us do away with politics. Documents are there lying on your tables, demands of services and to purchase tyres, [but] you don’t do your work.
Soldiers are forced to drive long distances with worn-out tyres, risking their lives,” he said. Pinehas said he will not put the blame on the vehicles but will blame the people responsible.
“The blame must go where it belongs. To the people. Our drivers also, you know very well that the vehicle you are driving is not 100% roadworthy, but you create conditions that allow you to speed and to rush, putting not only yourself in danger but other road users,” Pinehas said.
He said army commanders should take full responsibility for the safety of the soldiers under their command.
“Your responsibility to be called a commander is not prestige but it’s a large responsibility placed on your shoulders. I want you to have control over the movement of your soldiers,” he said.
“Let us do our job. Let us always perform our job knowing that the defence force and the defence ministry are public goods. They are not our private items,” he said.
BACKGROUND
The accident in which three soldiers died occurred after an NDF Land Cruiser was reportedly driving back to Windhoek from the Independence Day commemoration at Outapi.
The vehicle was carrying nine soldiers. The other occupants sustained injuries, with three of the survivors, including the 31-year-old driver, fighting for their lives.
The three deceased have been identified as Paulus Nadhipite Nuuyoma (41), Teopolina Aipanda (29) and Thadeus Kapembona (28).
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