Shalli, who was honoured with a 15-gun salute and inspected a guard of
honour mounted by the Zimbabwe Defence Force, paid a four-day visit to
Zimbabwe last week.
Early reports emerging from that conflict-ridden country indicated
that talks included discussions around a defence pact, which also involves
Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola helped the DRC repel Ugandan and
Rwandan-backed rebels in 1998 under a SADC military intervention code-named
‘Operation Sovereign Legitimacy’.
The Herald newspaper, the Zimbabwean government’s official mouthpiece,
reported yesterday that Shalli said Namibia was “neutral” in Zimbabwe’s
ongoing political stand-off, and backed the mediation efforts of South
African President Thabo Mbeki.
“The Namibian Government’s position is very clear.
It is not in our interest as Africa to interfere in another African
country’s internal affairs,” Shalli told the Zimbabwean media.
However, he also told the media that Zimbabwe remained a member of the
international community “and the region will assist it through its
problems”.
Shalli toured the Zimbabwe army staff college where at least 52 NDF
senior officers were trained and was honoured with a 15-gun salute and an
official dinner.
Official reports said Shalli was briefed on security issues and the
roles and operations of the ZDF.
However, sources said there were also talks about how Namibia could
assist if things got out of hand.
Shalli’s visit came hot on the heels of a top Angolan army official to
Harare.
He said Namibia and Zimbabwe must continue to foster and strengthen
the cordial relations shared between the two countries.
“The relationship between Namibia and Zimbabwe is growing from
strength to strength.
Post published in: News