Defence Attaché at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Namibia to the United Nations (UN), Brigadier General Frederick Silungila has dismissed alleged corruption in the recruitment of security officials to serve at foreign missions saying the selection and appointment is are done in accordance with United Nations recommendations.
Silungila who represents the Namibian Defence, Police and Correctional Services at the UN, was speaking at the opening of a certifying ceremony at Ruben Danger Ashipala Police Training Centre in Ondangwa where 201 Nampol officers applied to be considered for peacekeeping duties in foreign countries.
“I am always reading about your corruption claims in the newspapers that your seniors are only posting the same people to foreign missions. That is not true. Appointments are done through a process and it starts right here. After completing this exercise, your names are kept in the UN database. Names for deployments are requested by the UN from the database, and they are sent to my office,” Silungila explained.
According to Silungila, his office liaises with the safety and security ministry and the appointments are done through the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.
“There is no shortcut here. This is where you have to start and then you can be able to serve as many times as you want, as long as the UN is requesting your services based on your qualifications and experience. It does not mean soon after the assessment you are all going to be deployed. It will take time and it will be done in small batches,” Silungila said.
The candidates were also urged to seize the opportunity presented to them by concentrating on all the phases of the exercise so that they emerge victorious in order to get a chance to serve in foreign missions.
The department of the police in the safety and security ministry invited the United Nations Selection Assistance and Assessment Team (UNSAAT) to administer a mandatory test to members of the police force in order to certify them prior to deployment on peacekeeping assignments. Members of the police interested in joining foreign mission assignments were invited to declare their interest by applying for consideration.
“I must indicate to you that international duties require the highest order of discipline, endurance and tolerance due to the fact that they are multinational and sometimes undertaken in harsh conditions under the umbrellas of UN, AU or SADC. That is why the Namibian police will only select certified members who are disciplined, committed and good ambassadors,” said Silungila.
The commandant of the training centre, Deputy Commissioner Ndafudha Iifo also encouraged the candidates to embrace the outcome of the final selection and told those who might not make it not to despair. The assessment is being undertaken by Samwel Mshana from Tanzania and Roman Polyvoda from Ukraine who are all UNSAAT members under the coordination of Chief Inspector Laudika Abraham and Inspector Rehabeam Hengari.
Silungila said Namibians are currently deployed in five UN missions in Darfur, South Sudan, Libya, Ivory Coast and Liberia. According to Silungila, to date, Namibian peacekeeping forces have a clean record. “I think this is because of our training back home. This is not an easy mission. If one member misbehaves, the whole group will be returned home,” Silungila cautioned.
ILENI NANDJATO
Category: