Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698748758330.pdf (Namibia)
, 1 .1 STATEMENT BY HON NETUMBO NANDI-NDAITWAH, THE OF DEPUTY INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, SECOND READING DEBATE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, 2016/17 PRIME MINISTER RELATIONS AND MINISTER AND Hon Speaker Honourable Members First I congratulate the people of Namibia, women in particular as we mark the 8th March Women's I am more particularly comforted that we have more women in the chamber this time around.

International Day.
International Day.

Allow me now to congratulate the Minister of Finance, Hon Calle Schlettwein and his team for presenting a forward looking budget which clearly shows us that we are on the right track as a nation towards prosperity, as articulated in the 2014 SWAPO Party Election Manifesto.

laws, policies, like many Governments is managing its The Namibian Government affairs based on set In this rules and procedures.
context, the tabling of the budget on the 25th February 2016 is within the context of set principles.

As a rule, before the Appropriation Bill budget becomes law, it has to be scrutinised by the lawmakers in both the current the National Assembly and National Council.

Hence, debate on the budget in this Honourable House.

It is essential to note that budget is all about how the scarce resources are distributed among the competing sectors.
It must also be noted to be a scarce commodity that, money has been and continues demands worldwide.

As financial prudence by applying the concept of achieving more with to fulfil, budget less.

As Ministries submissions and allocations do differ from one Ministry to another.

do have different missions allocation and utilisation such, budget llPage -, I Ministries' budget allocations are therefore, determined by external need to and internal understand and appreciate.
of which Honourable Members factors Honourable Members, The mission of the Namibian Defence Force is one that is not always easily understood.

However, this mission is very demanding as it can determine whether we will live or die.

I have noted that, when the debate on the budget started, among the first bullets fired from the opposition bench was on the Defence vote.

The Defence budget was viewed by some Members as unwarranted given that the country is not at war.
But those who have expressed views against the Defence budget have made so out of ignorance about the defence and security issues.

Their criticism were not measured and qualified against the conventional Defence's mission of any country.

As appeared in the Namibian Sun, of the 7th March 2016, Hon Vipuakuje Muharukua had the following to say, "We are at peace now which means soldiers are remunerated simply for being in barracks.
Why can they not be used to deliver drought relief or to give assistance during floods when there is relief needed?"

First and foremost, this statement made by a lawmaker should be condemned in strongest term as it belittling men and women in uniforms who have decided to sacrifice and integrity.

Second, such statement gives a wrong message to territorial the public as it is a misrepresentation of facts.
It must be underscored that, the Namibian Defence Force is the only instrument of the state that shall serve as the last resort on which the state shall rely on when all other security elements of national power have failed.

in defence of Namibia's sovereignty The Namibian Defence Force is an element of national power charged with the responsibility to maintain peace and defend this country and all its citizens at all cost.
The Namibian Defence Force like all other Defence Forces is a public good that serves the interest of all people.

21Page Gone are the days when Defence Forces across the globe are considered as killing machines only.

Defence Forces do contribute immensely to socio-economic development and wellbeing of people of which the Namibian Defence Force has been doing exceptional well.
necessities to the needy As Namibia is prone to acute droughts and floods, the only guarantor to rescue the nation from catastrophe is the Namibian Defence Force.

Let me put the record very clear, the Namibian Defence Force has made immeasurable contribution by saving the lives of our people during drought relief and floods when the nation was faced with catastrophic disasters.

The Namibian Defence Force has a reputation of ferrying people to the highlands during flood.
Our Defence Force is also renowned for having transported thousands of tons of food and disasters.

That other contribution has been going on for years and even continues till date.

As a person who has been assigned to oversee disaster and risk in the country, I can say with confidence that even in the management current drought we are experiencing in the country, one way or the in other, drought relief management and distribution.
One wonders why then Hon Muharukua is so blind not to see what is happening within the public domain.

Therefore, opposing the Defence budget allocation is tantamount to gambling with own lives and the sovereignty of the Land of the Brave.

the Namibian Defence Force has been a reliable partner people during It is also imperative for the benefit of those who may not be aware to underline and reflect on some fundamental principles on which the Namibian Defence Force operates.
Chapter 15, Article 115 of our Constitution stipulates that "there shall be establishment by Act of to defend the territory and national Parliament a Defence Force... interests of Namibia".

Furthermore, Vision 2030 stipulates that, "there is need to formulate and implement coherent modernisation plan for procurement of modern military hardware and maintain a credible 31Page , .
is quantitatively on par with the best defence defence posture that In the same vein, Namibia's Foreign Policy force in the region".

asserts that, "without peace and security, no meaningful development and stability can be achieved" Also, the SADC Mutual Defence Pact collective self- article (4) and (6) call for "military preparedness, defence and action to maintain peace, stability and security in the level, the African Union has put in region".
And at the continental place Security Policy Framework for the establishment of the African Standby Force which is made up by regional Standby Forces.

A classic example is the SADC intervention Brigade deployed in DRC.

All the above statements and programmes demand a capable and credible Defence Force with dedicated budget.
We must be mindfully that, even nations that have been in existence for hundreds of years are still strengthening their Defence Forces to be able to withstand and effectively deal with defence and security threats.

It must be underpinned that credible Defence Forces are not established only threat hanging over people's heads.

Credible when there is real Defence Forces' anchored constitutional missions, assumptions and perceived threat.
They are created on assumptions that there might be security threat one day.

Nations that relent and become complacent by hoping that there shall be no emerging national threats shall do that at own peril and possibly demise.

The internal political and security system is dynamic and as a government we must always be prepared.

on the Defence are built Forces Before I conclude, it is important to inform this August House that the Namibian Defence Force has made contributions to peace beyond our borders.
Our men and women in uniforms members of the Namibian Defence Force were deployed to Cambodia, Angola and Liberia for UN Peace Mission.

They have also served and continue to serve as Military Observers and Staff Officers for Peace Support Operations to DRC of the Namibian Defence under UN or AU.
The deployment from Force together with some SADC Member States for combat 41Page It has also to be recognised that 1998 to 200 1 prevented the fall of that country into the hands of the the deployment of the invaders.

Namibian Defence Force and other Defence Forces to DRC has to a certain extent contributed to the world peace, security and stability.

It has to be understood that contribution towards world peace, security and stability is a contribution to world socio-economic development.
Therefore, Hon.

Members, as we debate the budget, we must sought clear understanding to enable us to have a meaningful debate, mission based and aimed at fiscal discipline, effective and efficient utilisation of scarce resources as opposed to focusing on political gains.

I support the Bill.

Thank you SIPage