•  December 2000February 2001 Local News Headlines

Friday, March 2, 2001 - Web posted at 9:17:46 AM GMT

CoD to push call for mine probe
MAX HAMATA

THE Congress of Democrats has declined an offer by the Defence Ministry to fly "a few MPs and journalists" to scrutinise its mining interests in the Congo, insisting instead that a committee of experts be delegated to investigate Government's alleged dealings in 'blood diamonds'.

Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina made the offer after Swapo yesterday used its National Assembly majority to shoot down a CoD motion calling for an independent commission of inquiry to investigate Government-owned mine."

"The Government's eagerness to vote down this motion demonstrates that the Prime Minister was not serious when he proposed last year to put up a commission of inquiry to investigate the then rumours regarding the Government-owned mine in the DRC.

He was just bluffing," said CoD Chief Whip Ignatius Shixwameni at an impromptu media briefing, immediately after the motion was dismissed.

The CoD MP felt that the offices of the Ombudsman, Auditor General and the Prosecutor General should "go to the root and establish the truth since they are time and again involved in one or the other investigation of some sort as part of their daily routines and duties."

"Shixwameni vowed that his party would not rest until the truth comes out.

"We will use all avenues to investigate the Government's murky deals in the Congo ... you can run but you cannot hide," warned Shixwameni.

He said the CoD is eager to co-operate and provide information to the UN body which is investigating countries involved in trading in 'blood diamonds'.

He charged that the diamond mine near Tshikapa was "a clear indication that our sending of troops to the DRC was motivated by selfish and economic interests."

""The CoD condemns any plunder and exploitation of the natural resources of one country by another, most particularly when this is done and spearheaded by an unelected president and dictator in collusion with military friends and economic scavengers."

"Added Shixwameni: "The natural resources of a country do not and will never belong to a president, whether democratically elected or not.

Worse is the fact that an unelected president does not have the right to freely dish out to his friends, cronies and so-called allies the wealth of his nation, thus mortgaging the future of his people and their natural resources."

"The CoD MP said his party did not oppose Government being involved in legitimate business in other countries."

"We are against using the security and defence weaknesses and vulnerability of another state to enter into dubious businesses which are not above board.

This is the clear case with our mineral operations in the DRC."

"He said the CoD was also not against the Government's attempts to "curtail and cut out Unita operations from the DRC, but our conduct must be clear and open to scrutiny.

We are a small nation which cannot afford international black- or grey-listing as a 'sensitive state whose receipts must be watched and scrutinised carefully' as stated in a UN report (on conflict gems)."

"The National Assembly adjourned until Tuesday.

•  Paladin set to expand uranium production at Langer Heinrich
•  TransNamib workers to strike
•  Mini-tsunami off SA coast
•  Horse mackerel captains appear in Walvis court
•  Four men caught with 'uranium'
•  Ndaitwah warns against tribalism
•  Constituency named after John Pandeni
•  Ministry defends trophy-hunting
•  Conservation meeting in Etosha
•  Conservation meeting in Etosha
•  Armed men 'were no threat to Obama'
•  Fishing trawler runs aground
•  Double murderer Mikini gets a near-record 70½ year jail term
•  Air Namibia attendant busted with cocaine in SA