By William J. Mbangula Oshakati As part of his ongoing campaign against corruption, President Hifikepunye Pohamba has once again demanded an explanation as to what happened to the missing N$100 million of the Offshore Development Corporation (ODC). Speaking at the inauguration of the N$24-million ODC-initiated Ongwediva Business Industrial Park on Wednesday last week, the Head of State questioned the manner in which the money disappeared. Only last year while working on the Tsumeb-Oshikango railway line, he made a similar public appeal for information on the money which disappeared in an ill-conceived investment deal. He described such type of behaviour and handling of public funds as an evil which he likened to cancer destroying the human body. Pohamba reacted thus on the basis of an introduction made by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Petrina Haingura, earlier in the morning during the inauguration of Ongwediva Medipark. In her introductory remarks Haingura described the President as one who is allergic to corruption. Responding to her introduction at the ODC function later in the afternoon, the President reacted by challenging the nation on whether they liked corruption or not. The audience responded with clear disapproval. He said: “About N$100 million, the money of the people, got lost through the ODC. I am not talking about a mere N$10, but it is N$100 million which could have been used to solve some of the pertinent problems facing our country. Do you like what has happened?” he asked. “If all of you do not like it,” he continued, “then the nation should join hands to fight the evil of corruption.” According to the President, all people of goodwill are allergic to corruption, including high-ranking officials in the ODC and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, who have confessed and expressed disappointment to him after realising the botched investment of the missing N$100 million was a non starter. As a way to fight corruption, Pohamba explained, he has instructed the Ministry of Justice to amend certain laws and close loopholes to protect whistleblowers. If they were not protected, such people would feel threatened and not be encouraged to report incidents of corruption. The business park is named after the late Swapo youth leader and Robben Island prisoner David Shikomba, who was a native of the village where the facility is located. The President commended the initiators of the tribute because the late Shikomba has been given status and honour befitting his historical background in fighting for the liberation of the country. On socio-economic development, Pohamba said the country is facing many challenges hence he is appealing for more strategic partnerships between local and foreign investors. He also appealed to financial institutions to be flexible when dealing with upcoming local entrepreneurs, most of whom are located in the newly opened ODC facility. The occasion was directed by the ODC’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Nghidinwa Daniel and attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Andrew Ndishishi. The Ministry’s Deputy Minister Bernard Esau told the gathering that the park was constructed in keeping with the mandate of the Ministry, aimed at creating conditions necessary for boosting entrepreneurial development and increasing business and industrial activity in the country. He explained that the strategy of his ministry has been to focus on the development and growth of the SME sector and the creation of conditions for balanced spatial economic development among the various regions, towns, villages and settlements. The high concentration of economic activities in urban centres and a few regions has seen the migration of people, especially the active youth, from remote rural areas with little or no economic activities to urban areas, they hoping to secure jobs and opportunities for a better life. The hard reality, however, Esau noted, is that most of these job seekers end up in the streets and resorting to crime in the cities and towns.