Windhoek
The National Unity Democratic Organization (Nudo) wants President Hage Geingob to engage former members of the notorious counter-insurgency unit Koevoet and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF).
Currently over 100 former Koevoet and SWATF soldiers have congregated at the OvaHerero Commando Hall in Katutura demanding war veteran status. They are there since the beginning of the year.
Nudo believes the more the government ignores the former Koevoet/SWATF soldiers’ calls for discussion the more complex it will become to deal with the issue.
“Geingob should show that he has learned from past experience that ignoring recurring issues is a recipe for disaster and that ultimately a confrontation might ensue that will have far-reaching consequences for our fragile democracy,” said Nudo presidential spokesperson Joseph Kauandenge in a statement issued yesterday.
Kauandenge added that now is the time for the governmentto engage “these citizens and try to find lasting solutions to this rather explosive issue”.
“It does not make sense that former commanders and leaders are enjoying tenders and state security company contracts and some are employed in high government positions, and yet the people they commanded are seen as traitors,” said Kauandenge.
He said government should be seen to be pro-active rather then re-active “on explosive issues like this one”. “The lessons learned from the struggle kids issue is that one can’t wish issues that border on people’s emotions to die a natural death. They will come up time and time again until they are resolved one way or the other,” said the outspoken Kauandenge.
He said it is high time that the government show political maturity, and above all get down to business and speak with Namibian citizens irrespective of their past deeds to find a lasting solution.
“Otherwise this country will be held hostage by yet another story emanating from our bitter past of liberation and the future generations will have to clean up our mess when we are no more,” he said.
Albertus Aochamub the press secretary at State House said President Geingob cannot respond to everything that appears in the media, however he counselled if Nudo wants the president to engage the former colonial government soldiers they should write a letter to State House.
Koevoet was a paramilitary police counter-insurgency unit during the former South African regime’s illegal occupation of Namibia. Koevoet was led by the late general Hans Dreyer, who was notorious for committing acts of extreme brutality against Namibian civilians.