This article supplements what the Namibian President elucidated during her recent state of the nation address (Sona) in Parliament. 

Corruption is defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. 

It remains one of the greatest systemic problems faced by countries worldwide. 

The 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International, released in February 2026, reveals a stagnant global fight against corruption, with the average score dropping to a new low of 42/100. 

More than two-thirds of 182 countries score below 50, indicating that over 122 are failing to address public sector corruption and experiencing democratic decline. 

Namibia recorded its worst-ever performance, scoring 46/100 and dropping six places to 65th globally. 

Effective anti-corruption measures work by combining strong, independent enforcement with transparency, technological tools and cultural shifts towards integrity. 

Key actions include political will for enforcement, protecting whistleblowers, digitalising public service to reduce human discretion and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure accountability and monitor compliance. 

Policy options 

There are several anti-corruption policy options around the world that Namibia can closely imitate, emulate or benchmark, often based on best practices, that can be implemented at both national and local government levels, depending on the specific authority (mandate) and circumstances (context) involved, in the following key areas. 

Asset disclosure involves public officials revealing their personal wealth and interests. 

Countries like Korea have strengthened policies to prevent misuse of insider info and promote integrity, especially post-employment. 

Georgia and Ukraine also have systems monitoring declarations by officials in government or public roles. 

Conflict of interest: Public officials may find themselves in a position where they can use their office and the powers that come with it for personal gain. 

Panama enhanced its law on the Uniform Code of Ethics for public servants by specifying behaviours or actions that will be classified as conflicts of interest. 

Lobbying is acceptable in democracies, but safeguards are needed to prevent powerful groups from prioritising interests over public good. 

Spain and Ireland created public registers of lobbyist-official meetings, boosting transparency and accountability. 

Chile reformed its lobbying law to improve transparency and democratise the process. 

Political financing: The absence of transparency in campaign and party funding has eroded political integrity and contributed to citizens’ disillusionment with government. 

Croatia is committed to publicly publishing reports on the financing of political activities and election campaigns, and to enhancing the legal and institutional framework for campaign financing. 

Extractive industries: High revenue and profits from oil, gas and mining render extractive industries vulnerable to corruption. 

Canada established reporting standards, which require extractive activities to report payments made to governments. 

These reports aim to increase citizens’ awareness of how revenues are spent. 

Ghana and Armenia strengthened their Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) commitments by including open contracting and beneficial ownership in extractive sector management. 

Whistleblower protection: A key tool against corruption. 

Australia enhanced protections for tax misconduct disclosures. 

Corporate sector protections were developed alongside public sector standards to strengthen and align safeguards. 

Asset recovery: It enables governments to retrieve funds that have been illegally obtained. 

Once returned, these funds can be used to fund development projects for the public benefit. Nigeria enacted legislation to aid asset recovery and ensure the proper and transparent management of assets and proceeds. Right to information fosters transparency and accountability by enabling citizens and civil society to access data for monitoring and holding governments accountable. 

It acts as an anti-corruption tool by making illegal activities harder to conceal. 

Sri Lanka established a strong information access system with mass training for public servants. Fiscal openness: Openness across the budget and fiscal circle allows citizens to hold their government accountable and reduce waste. 

Over time, this can ensure that government spending reflects the people’s interests and needs. Georgia established a Budget Monitor portal through the State Audit Office to improve budget transparency and accountability and promote more effective use of budget resources. 

In conclusion, effective anti-corruption policies need a multi-faceted approach that combines legal frameworks, institutional strengthening and societal engagement. 

Learning from others requires humility and openness, recognising we do not have all the answers. 

*Maj. Gen. (RTD) J. B Tjivikua is a criminal intelligence analyst.