Rudolf Gaiseb
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa has commended Namibia’s strides in keeping corruption levels as low as possible.
The country is ranked 8th out of 54 countries in 2022.
She was speaking at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan (NACSAP) Steering Committee’s meeting in Windhoek on Wednesday.
“I am pleased that Namibia continues to have low levels of corruption, ranking 8th out of 54 countries in the 2022 Mo Ibrahim Corruption Index, and the 2022 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index placed Namibia at 59th out of 180 countries globally, with a score of 49 out of 100. This ranking puts Namibia at 4th in SADC,” she said.
However, whilst admirable, she said Namibia’s ranking is such that it points to a necessity for full strategy implementation to improve the country’s ranking.
“The NDP5 supports Vision 2030 and obligates the government to continue its fight against corruption. The NACSAP is interlinked with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2016), particularly envisaged to duly contribute to the fulfilment of the sustainable development goals. Namibia remains committed to fighting corruption in all spheres of society. Let us move forward together in our mission to create a corruption-free Namibia where justice, fairness, and integrity prevail,” she added.
Moreover, she requested civil society leaders, private and public sector representatives, to unite and remain dedicated to their efforts, as this will ensure that Namibia becomes a model of integrity and transparency in the region and beyond.
The commission launched its new strategic plan. According to spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata, it is a crucial national policy that aims to create synergy that promotes an effective system of integrity, transparency, ethics, and accountability in all sectors of society in Namibia.
Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa briefed the committee on the progress made by the responsible implementing institutions throughout the 2023/2024 financial year, highlighting the NACSAP report.
“This progress is not merely numbers and reports; it represents our collective efforts to commit to transparency, integrity, and accountability. The report also reflects on the challenges encountered as well as the lack of commitment by a few responsible institutions to fully implement the anti-corruption measures. It cannot be business as usual for those who lack the zeal to fight and prevent corruption, maladministration, and mismanagement of public funds,” he said.
ACC is busy working on the amendment of the Anti-Corruption Act, with the aim to review certain definitions in the law and criminalise certain conducts by heads of institutions and supervisors.
This is borne by the fact that one of the functions of ACC is to prevent and take necessary and effective measures for the prevention of corruption.
According to Noa, this includes advising public and private bodies on ways of preventing corrupt practices and on changes in practices, systems, and procedures compatible with the effective prevention of corruption.
Furthermore, he said unless the public body has good cause or explanation in writing why the instructions cannot be implemented within the period specified, the head or supervisor of the public body who, without reasonable cause, fails to comply with the instructions of ACC commits an offence and must be charged and brought before a competent criminal court.
He pinpointed that deterrent criminal measures shall no doubt optimise efforts to effectively implement corruption preventative measures by all institutions, particularly public institutions.
“Though corruption is cross-cutting, public institutions must lead by good example. The government has a responsibility to enact policies and laws that bind public officials on transparency and accountability and effectively prevent corruption.
Significantly, there are instances where ACC has conducted an investigation and submitted copies of the findings with recommendations to relevant authorities that culprits must be internally charged.
It has also conducted corruption risk assessments and submitted mitigation plans to be implemented, by the relevant authorities,
which Noa said should be taken seriously by the heads of the public institutions.
“Corruption is destructive to effective governance and service delivery. Corruption retards economic growth and prosperity. It creates a sense of mistrust and disunity and exacerbates poverty and social instability. Corruption must be confronted with serious measures of concerted action. We must all declare that enough is enough,” he stated.