By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK Partners in the “Save Our Nation” anti-corruption project have taken a decision to extend the date for announcing the winner of the competition in order to give ample time to members of the public to scoop the prize. The Executive Director of the Women’s Action for Development and composer of the song, Veronica de Klerk yesterday informed New Era that after requests made by the last three choirs and the auditors of the project, Ernest and Young, to extend the day for announcing the winner, the extension was granted. The last three choirs televised were: Okahandja Youth Choir, the Outjo Secondary School Choir: Outjo and the Jaakko Kangaji Choir from Rundu. Initially, the winner was supposed to have been made public today but, due to these changes, the Grand Finale will be held next week Monday, November 13, at 21h00. The first prize will be N$30ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000, the second prize N$20ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000, and the third winner will receive N$15ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000. “Since this request was viewed to be fair, extension has been granted for equal exposure to all competing choirs, with the cut-off for the public to send in their votes for the choirs of their choice being Wednesday, November 8, at 12h00. No votes by the public will be valid after this date,” she announced. De Klerk also commended Namibians for answering to the call to participate in the educational Anti-Corruption Choir Competition. “Thousands of viewers are following the competition with great interest and excitement while thousands of votes for the choirs of the nation’s choice are being received on Cell No. 444. Similarly, SMS anti-corruption messages are streaming in from across the country which will be presented to the offices of His Excellency, the President, and the Anti-Corruption Commission,” she said. These messages will be presented at the end of the project to the offices of the President and the ACC for further evaluation and consideration. By the closing date for the choir competition (November 8, 2006), a total of 45 choirs representing 10 regions across the country would have entered to compete in this contest. During the launch of this project, President Hifikepunye Pohamba called upon all Namibians to promote the values of honesty, transparency and accountability in order to mould a nation and create a society free from the evils of greed, corruption and waste of the already limited national resources. The President commended WAD for engaging in activities aimed at sensitizing and raising awareness among the people about the pitfalls resulting from dishonest behaviour, misappropriation of public properties for self enrichment, and other forms of greed.