National Assembly (NA) secretary Lydia Kandetu has said parliamentarians are aware of their responsibility to declare assets and interests. The MPs are aware that through asset and interest declarations, they open themselves up for public scrutiny.
She said this in response to New Era’s questions on MPs’ continued non-compliance with rules dealing with their asset declarations. To ensure compliance, the NA employs several measures with asset and interest declaration requirements, such as sending reminders, and giving MPs submission deadlines.
“Making the asset declarations publicly available serves as a deterrent against non-compliance, as MPs are aware that their declarations will be subject to public scrutiny,” she said.
She added that despite reminders and a formal memo issued by her office, requesting the submission of the 2024 declarations, “a few MPs have yet to fully comply with this requirement”.
She said: “As of the latest updates, MPs are required to submit their asset and interest declarations by a specified deadline each year. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for some MPs to miss the deadline or submit incomplete declarations”.
She said all MPs are obligated to comply with Section 12(a) of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Namibia Parliament Act, along with chapters 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct for Members of the NA.
Adherence to these regulations is crucial for upholding the integrity of the NA.
She stated these factors could however contribute to incomplete disclosures, such as administrative oversights or complex financial situations, although she is not able to comment on individual cases.
She also said while some MPs provide comprehensive and detailed disclosures, others may offer minimal information.
“The emphasis should remain on ensuring compliance and addressing any issues through the appropriate channels,” she said.
Status quo
A New Era report yesterday revealed that three months after the usual cut-off date for asset declarations, most parliamentarians are yet to declare their assets and interests.
This exercise should have been done by 30 April every year.
The situation points to a culture of non-compliance among MPs, and weak enforcement has persisted over the years, as many either fail to declare, submit later or undermine the declaration process.
When New Era requested to see the recent declarations of assets and interests last week, less than 50% of MPs had filed their declarations.
Earlier, the Institute for Public Policy Research associate Frederico Links blamed the non-compliance on the NA for its lack of enforcement on the matter.
“Parliament is coming to an end now, and the compliance rate has just been a process. But it’s one thing to blame the Parliament, and it’s another to enforce the rules around asset disclosure, and that is the problem because the enforcement is weak,” he said.
He said if Parliament had robust enforcement, MPs would comply.
“The rules are clear, and MPs have to declare. That is it but if they are not. It says something about the attitude around governance and rule of law in enforcing rules,” he added.
At the moment, 13 MPs do not own anything if the latest asset declaration is to be taken at face value.
Last year, the United Democratic Front was the only political party represented in the NA with a 100% asset declaration record.
At the time, all other formations had either one or more members who failed to reveal their assets or business interests.
“In order to avoid being reported as not complying with maintaining the highest standards of propriety to ensure that their integrity and that of the political institutions that they serve are beyond reproach, the members are kindly requested to submit their forms on or before Thursday, 3 August 2023,” Kandetu pleaded with the MPs at the time.
Then, 16 Swapo MPs failed to declare their possessions.
Among them were Cabinet minister Yvonne Dausab, Anna Nghipondoka, Christine //Hoebes, Jennely Matundu, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, Hilma Nicanor and Swapo Party Youth League head honcho Ephraim Nekongo.
However, Dausab this year declared her assets and interest.
Meanwhile, the Popular Democratic Movement was in second place with seven MPs, who elected not to disclose what they own.
Party leader McHenry Venaani, his father Mike Venaani, erstwhile NA chief whip Vipuakuje Muharukua, Hidipo Hamata, Inna Hengari, Winnie Moongo and Reginald Diergaardt had all not submitted their asset declaration forms by the cut-off date.
In the orange army of the Landless People’s Movement, leader and chief change campaigner Bernadus Swartbooi, erstwhile member Edson Isaaks and Utaara Mootu also failed to declare their wealth and interests.
Meanwhile, the now ejected red beret duo of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters – president Epafras Mukwiilongo and Kalimbo Iipumbu – left Parliament without declaring their assets.
Their party was recently deregistered for failing to comply with certain provisions of the Electoral Act, dealing with the accountability of public funds.
More so, National Unity Democratic Organisation president Utjiua Muinjangue and secretary general Joseph Kauandenge failed to declare their assets last year.
Deregistered Christian Democratic Voice leader Gotthard Kandume, Swanu’s Tangeni Iijambo and Republican Party MP Mathias Mbundu also failed to declare their interests.
-ashikololo@nepc.com.na
Caption: