Africa-Press – Namibia. Namibia’s First Gentleman, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, has called for a more intelligent and strategic approach to military leadership, arguing that modern defence forces must “think, analyse and decide with precision”, rather than rely on outdated combat methods.
He delivered these remarks during yesteday’s high-profile public lecture on strategic leadership and management at the University of Namibia.
Although he did not use the exact phrase ‘smart military,’ his message aligned with the concept as he consistently emphasised the need for a modern and forward-thinking defence force.
He stressed that military success today requires vision, speed of decision-making and tailored strategies, not rigid routines or blanket approaches.
Drawing on decades of service as former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, he emphasised that effective leadership in the military must combine strategic thinking with efficient management, describing the two as “mutually inclusive”.
Ndaitwah illustrated his point using a powerful metaphor of the fish eagle, a bird with exceptional vision and rapid decision-making ability.
“Within seconds, it decides the direction, the speed of the fish, the depth of the water, and whether it can strike,” he said.
He argued that leaders must do the same process with multiple variables quickly and act decisively. This, he suggested, is what separates a traditional force from a smart, modern force.
He further explained the evolution of military strategy, noting that the word “strategy” itself originally belonged to generals, because only they were responsible for commanding the entire war effort.
Soldiers were trained only in tactics, but generals had to decide which units to deploy and which terrain to fight on.
Today, he said, strategy is used in every sector, such as political, economic, and educational, because it demands critical analysis and problem-solving. “Strategy is not one size fits all. It must be tailor-made to a particular problem,” he emphasised.
In this light, his concept of a “smart military” is one that does not collect information aimlessly or store endless documents, but rather develops targeted strategies that solve identified problems.
“Don’t end up having a box full of strategies… those are just paperwork,” he cautioned. Instead, he urged officers and students to focus on relevance, clarity and execution. The First Gentleman also highlighted the need for balanced leadership, saying military leaders must not only command troops, but also manage resources, welfare and operational affairs.
“You cannot only manage people, but also manage the affairs of people,” he said, linking leadership and management as two sides of the same coin.
His remarks resonated strongly in an era where defence forces worldwide are shifting toward technology, intelligence-driven operations and agile command structures.
The lecture, attended by senior defence officials, academics and students, set the tone for deeper national conversations on military reform, leadership development and strategic innovation in Namibia.
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