| Stated Role |
To guarantee Namibia's territorial integrity by guarding against external attack, conventional or unconventional, and helping to prevent violations of Namibia's land, sea and airspace; operate effectively in support of the civil authorities if required; undertake peacetime operations in support of the civil ministries (for example to help combat economic threats), to assist the civil community as required and to meet other defence commitments as they arise; provide challenges and opportunities to employees utilising and enhancing their skills, abilities and creativity; develop a defence organisation with which the people of Namibia will identify and in which they will take pride; and, operate safely and with respect for the environment<P>The central priorities for MoD is to develop a management plan and strategy to implement and monitor the policy presented in the defence policy and to provide the equipment and resources necessary for its implementation. The structure and organisation of the MoD will be kept under review. In addition, the MoD will actively participate in defence and security aspects, including contribution to Government crisis management and contingency planning (including co-operation with other interested ministries). <P> <P>Aside from these central issues, specific management priorities are also identifiable. These include the determination of force levels, equipment requirements, training, recruitment and deployment policy; career planning, the refinement and review of the concept of operations; the effective management of resource allocation and distribution; and the articulation of the defence programme into a detailed long term financial plan (a long term costing, or LTC). An overriding policy objective will be to align accountability with responsibility and authority as closely as is practicable. <P> <P>The MoD is prepared to share its experiences with other countries whose Defence Forces are developing or restructuring. <P>The Ministry of Defence chairs the Defence Staff Council, the MOD's highest management committee. As the Minister responsible for defence, he represents the Ministry in the National Assembly and in Cabinet. The Minister is supported directly by a Deputy Minister and the Chief of the Defence Force and the Permanent Secretary |