ACC director general promises no more nonsense

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has confirmed that more arrests are expected across different sectors of the country in the coming weeks.

This is despite the prosecutor general (PG) facing criticism for allegedly delaying high-profile cases.

ACC director general Paulus Noa confirmed this yesterday.

He could, however, not confirm how many arrests are yet to be approved by the PG Martha Imalwa.

“As we are sitting now, there is a pile of dockets related to different areas and not just agriculture. Even today someone was arrested at Walvis Bay in a different sector,” he said.

Imalwa has been criticised for allegedly delaying high-profile cases submitted by the ACC.

Her office has previously rejected allegations but confirmed that some high-profile cases linked to the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) and the national fuel storage facility are indeed with her office.

“I can assure you I am not going to answer how many cases the PG has approved,” Noa said.

This week, the ACC arrested a second agriculture official, Liam Mbako (40), a hydrologist technician at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform.

Mbako and Godfried Uiseb (35), his co-accused, made their first court appearance at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The two were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly defrauding the agriculture ministry of N$387 397 in connection with a water sampling trailer which was never delivered.

The trailer helps test water pressure, pipes and valves.

The two appeared before magistrate Jurina |Hochobes on charges of corruption, contravening the anti-corruption act, and using office for personal gain.

State prosecutor Steven Haradoeb yesterday said Mbako is facing four charges of fraud, corruption, falsifying documents and using his position for gratification.

Mbako served as a member in the procurement board of the agriculture ministry and allegedly gave the tender of the water sampling trailer to tenderpreneur Uiseb.

The accused then allegedly falsified documents and a delivery note of receiving the water sampling trailer from Uiseb.

Uiseb allegedly never delivered the water sampling trailer, but instead issued an invoice to the ministry for N$387 397.

Uiseb’s lawyer, Gabriel Mwillima, asked why his client was being charged with the crime when he was already arrested by the Namibian Police on 14 August for the same offence. Magistrate Hochobes granted the two bail in an amount of N$10 000 each.

She postponed the hearing to 19 January 2026 for further investigation and for Mbako to apply for legal aid.

This month alone the ACC arrested over 12 people across the country.

Last week, the commission arrested a senior agricultural technician, Muliehi Neo (41), and member of the public, Panduleni Hamunime (47), in connection with an alleged government subsidy scheme.

On 7 November, the ACC arrested Anthony Dreyer, a former Ministry of Works and Transport official at Swakopmund.

He is accused of allocating government works worth N$84 132 to his own company, Camel Thorn Investment CC, without following proper procurement procedures.

This was for work involving the servicing of firefighting equipment for the then Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

The ACC has also arrested Swapo’s regional council candidate for the Omaruru constituency, Hendrina Gebhardt, for alleged corrupt practices.

She is accused of abusing her position by directing the appointment of her brother, Samuel Gebhardt, as workshop foreman, despite him not being the most qualified or highest-scoring candidate.

On Wednesday, the ACC also attempted to arrest ||Kharas Regional Council chairperson Joseph Isaacks and councillor Jeremiah Goeieman.

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