Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah

Who is Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah?

Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah is a Namibian diplomat and military commander. He is the chief of the Namibia Defence Force since 24 January 2011.

Ndaitwah joined SWAPO's military wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia in 1974 and participated in Namibia's struggle for independence in various positions. He attended military training in Russia, Yugoslavia, India, Nigeria, Zambia and Tanzania. At Namibias independence in 1990 he became the first military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Force, Dimo Hamaambo. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at that time. He became Deputy Commander of the Army in 1997. Until 2006 Ndaitwah served as Chargé d’affaires of Namibia to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was promoted to Major General in 2008, and to Lieutenant General in 2011 at the occasion of his appointment as Chief of the Namibian Defence force, succeeding Martin Shalli.

In 2007, Ndaitwah graduated with a Masters degree in Strategic Studies from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is currently a student of Public Management at the Polytechnic of Namibia.

Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah is married to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibian Minister of Environment and Tourism.