Anti-corruption marchers present petition with 4 600+ signatures

IT started with around 50 people, banners in hand, shouting “down with corruption” along Independence Avenue in Windhoek, and concluded with a group of around 70 NGO members, students, civil servants, and other members of the public handing a petition to the Prime Minister’s office.

“We, the undersigned Namibians,” it read, “demand that Government initiate immediate and effective action against corruption by, among other things, investigating all allegations of corruption, making the findings public, prosecuting all suspected of corruption and punishing the guilty.” Along the way, many on the sidewalks waved and shouted in unison, despite declining to join the march, which started at the Kudu statue in Independence Avenue.”I would have joined,” said Petrus Habini from the side, “but I’m at work now.It’s bad what’s happening.The rich are stealing for their own pocket, and they’re taking our last bit of money.”The Young Democrats’ Secretary General, Natji Tjirera, said he was pleased with the implementation of Section 417 of the Companies Act in the SSC-Avid saga, which allowed the High Court inquiry to take place.”We want a law passed that will allow for all companies put under liquidation, and having dealt with State money, to go the route of section 417,” he said.More than 4 600 signatures from around the country appeared on the petition, which was handed to Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, Steve Katjiuanjo.According to National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) member, Mirjam Sakaria, who read out the petition in front of the Prime Minister’s office, some people refused to sign.”Maybe one out of 10 didn’t sign,” she said.”They might have thought we were wrong, or maybe they didn’t understand,” she said.Katjiuanjo received the petition on behalf of Prime Minister Nahas Angula, who was out of town in the South.Along the way, many on the sidewalks waved and shouted in unison, despite declining to join the march, which started at the Kudu statue in Independence Avenue.”I would have joined,” said Petrus Habini from the side, “but I’m at work now.It’s bad what’s happening.The rich are stealing for their own pocket, and they’re taking our last bit of money.”The Young Democrats’ Secretary General, Natji Tjirera, said he was pleased with the implementation of Section 417 of the Companies Act in the SSC-Avid saga, which allowed the High Court inquiry to take place.”We want a law passed that will allow for all companies put under liquidation, and having dealt with State money, to go the route of section 417,” he said.More than 4 600 signatures from around the country appeared on the petition, which was handed to Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, Steve Katjiuanjo.According to National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) member, Mirjam Sakaria, who read out the petition in front of the Prime Minister’s office, some people refused to sign.”Maybe one out of 10 didn’t sign,” she said.”They might have thought we were wrong, or maybe they didn’t understand,” she said.Katjiuanjo received the petition on behalf of Prime Minister Nahas Angula, who was out of town in the South.