Three months after the usual cut-off date for assets declarations of Members of Parliament, most parliamentarians are yet to declare their assets and interests.

This exercise should have been done by 30 April every year.

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.

Article 59(2)1 of the Constitution states: “The National Assembly shall in its rules of procedure make provision for such disclosure as may be considered to be appropriate in regard to the financial or business affairs of its members”. 

This is enforced to combat conflict of interest.

Weak 

While the MPs have an obligation to meet, research associate in the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Frederico Links has blamed the non-compliance on the National Assembly 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.

He said the authority is failing to hold its members accountable, which is a matter of concern.

Thorny declarations

Thirteen MPs do not own anything if the latest asset declaration is to be taken at face value. 

They include PDM’s deputy leader Jennifer van der Heever, Nico Smit, Winnie Moongo, Yvette Araes, Loide Iipinge and Elma Dienda, among others.

While the issue of declaration non-compliance has been raging on, labour minister Utoni Nujoma has in the past been vocal against the asset register, saying it is weaponised against them.

In 2020, he expressed dissatisfaction with the exercise. 

“I declared my assets interest as required [by law]. As I speak, all the declarations are on Facebook. They have been posted by opponents,” he said in Parliament at the time.

Records show that Nujoma is one of many who have not declared their assets in the recent financial year.

He is joined by his party members such as home affairs minister, Albert Kawana, Swapo stalwart Jerry Ekandjo, Ephraim Nekongo, information minister Emma Theofelus, youthful politician Patience Masua, land reform minister Calle Schlettwein and marginalised affairs deputy minister Royal /Ui/o/oo.

Opposition leaders who also failed to declare include the Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani as well as Bernadus Swartbooi for the Landless People’s Movement.

Links sees the arguments that MPs are afraid of public scrutiny as vague.

“They should have known that when they stood for Parliament. That is not an argument, and they should not have any expectations of not being scrutinised,” she said. 

Complied

Records show that those who declared include finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi, whose assets include two-unit trusts, one in Allan Gray at a value of N$3.6 and another in PSG Konsult at a value of N$4.2.

He also declared having 50% shares in residential properties, including one in Ongwediva, Walvis Bay and two apartments in Windhoek.

Deputy minister of higher education, Natalia !Goagoses has 100% shares in Telne Properties CC, two residential properties and one business property, which are all on loan with First National Bank, Bank Windhoek and Development Bank of Namibia.

She also declared a pension held at the Government Institutions Pension Fund and an old age grant.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta declared nine-bedroom, four-bedroom and five-bedroom houses. 

The two are in Windhoek.

He also has another 19-bedroom house in the Ongenga settlement.

On top of that, Shifeta owns two vacant plots in Eenhana, one crop field at Okongo, and another crop and livestock field in Mangetti. 

He has 100% ownership in PPS Trust.

Mines minister Tom Alweendo has 50% shares in Haus Wilma CC, a real estate firm and 25% in El Sham Endurance CC.

He also owns two houses and a flat.

Justice minister Yvonne Dausab has two residential properties in Windhoek, communal land in Hoachanas and a plot in Henties Bay to which she only paid a deposit.

Fisheries deputy minister Silvia Makgone declared 17.5% shares in Ramosi Investment CC, 50% farming in Silvic Investment CC as well as a townhouse in Windhoek.

Meanwhile, the trade minister Lucia Iipumbu has partnerships with entities such as Kakalawala Trading CC, Splendid Diamonds and Tinswalo Trading Enterprises. 

These companies deal with events management and construction, mining, fisheries and financial services.

She also owns a house in Dorado Park in Windhoek.

Urban and Rural Development minister Erastus Utoni declared a Windhoek house, another in Ongwediva and unspecified business buildings.

He also receives an elderly pension from the government.

Ejected Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters MP Longinus Iipumbu has 50% shares each in Trinity Funeral Service, Muka Security Solution and W.C.I, an internet service provider.

He owns a 10 000 square meter campsite and two Mahangu fields, one at Omuntele and another in Eenhana.

Swapo backbencher Tjekero Tweya has 500 shares in Namibia Breweries. 

He also declared attending a sponsored trip by Uranium One to the Atom Expo in Russia last year.

Defence minister Frans Kapofi has 299 488 shares in PSG Konsult, 21 in One Namibia Investment Holding and 16 in Kula Investment Property (LTD). 

He is a director at Western National Insurance Company and Mbashe Fishing Company.

He has three residential properties, two in Windhoek and one in Swakopmund as well as a plot in Ondangwa.

He also has pension funds with Sanlam, GIPF and Old Mutual, and also owns Uguva Trust.

Health minister Kalumbi Shangula has 5% shares in Ankit Gem Namibia (Pty) LTD, a diamond cutting and polishing company as well as 100% shares in Iipati Health Consulting Services.

His properties include a house in Windhoek and four in Okahao.

Vague 

Among many MPs who are not specific in their declarations, even though there are provisions for it in the form, is Peya Mushelenga, Namibia’s foremost diplomat. 

He declared 20% shares in Aloe Investment and Marzal (Pty) LTD, which he indicated are dormant. 

He also has 20% shares in Red Coal. 

Regarding properties, he said he owns a business property and two residential properties.

MPs who declared only one asset include Swapo’s Gotthard Kasuto, who owns one house, Maximalliant Katjimune owns a two-bedroom house in Windhoek, and Anna Shiweda has 25% shares in Mediva Fisheries (Pty) LTD.

Interestingly, deputy information minister Modestus Amutse declared receiving a pen from Nampost. 

This is in addition to other assets such as 10% shares in Joshi (Pty) LTD. 

He owns Fremo Financial, a consultancy company, and two plots.

–        ashikololo@nepc.com.na

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