SWAKOPMUND – Erongo Regional Governor Cleophas Mutjavikua says the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) needs to start focusing on bigger corruption cases if it is to gain the full confidence of the public. He also encouraged citizens to report high-profile corruption activities as well as smaller cases.
Mutjavikua said corruption remains a major setback for national development especially in Erongo, but this is shielded by the ACC’s narrow focus on ordinary citizens and “small fish”.
During a media briefing held last week by the ACC in Swakopmund, Mutjavikua said the nation wants to see high-profile arrests and prosecutions that would win the trust of Namibians.
“The ACC should really get to the big guns. Their target remains very low. We should start and push ACC to take a closer look at high-profile corruption as the nation wants to see such arrests,” he said.
“This will convince the public to report corruption. All these cases you mentioned only saw the arrest of ordinary citizens. You need to convince the public at large to report corruption. Currently the ACC looks like a toothless bulldog,” Mutjavikua said.
The ACC announced it has investigated 75 corruption cases in Erongo since January 2014, while 20 people have been prosecuted.
Alleged corruption at local authorities, tender bribery, selling of jobs at mines and the misuse of government facilities and or vehicles are just some of the cases reported by whistle-blowers and investigated by the ACC.
Mutjavikua said that continuous feedback must be given frequently to the public in order to gain the ACC’s trust.
“Sometimes you see hanging food but you don’t act on it. How do you think the public will report cases while information is in front of you?” charged the governor.
Mutjivikua said the ACC should look at shortening their investigations as it appears to take ages to finalise cases.
Also speaking at the briefing the chief education officer of the ACC, Tobias Amoonga, said for the ACC to carry out its mandate successfully they need partners, ambassadors and the public at large to fight corruption.
“That is why we had this outreach session to establish a relationship with the media and reach the public at large to come forward with information that could also speed up the finalization process of our investigations.”