Call for release of corruption reports

RELEASE the findings of major corruption investigations, was the call made at yesterday’s ‘Great Walk against Corruption’.

Addressing a crowd of roughly 2 000, Namibia Employers’ Federation (NEF) president Vekuii Rukoro drew applause when he demanded that President Hifikepunye Pohamba make public the findings of presidential commissions of inquiry into corruption at various parastatals since Independence. ‘I call on the President to release all reports of investigations of public institutions for public scrutiny. These commissions were established with taxpayers’ money, and Government was sufficiently worried about the affairs at these institutions to start them. Yet, 20 years later, those reports remain buried somewhere in an office,’ Rukoro said.’If the President has justified grounds why they can’t be released, let him then come on national television, take his citizens into confidence, and reveal why this cannot be done.’Presidential commissions of inquiry that have gripped public attention over the years include those into the affairs of the now defunct Development Brigade Corporation (DBC) and Namibia Development Corporation (NDC), the Roads Authority (RA), the Roads Contractor Company (RCC), and the Road Fund Administration (RFA).Neither Pohamba, nor the Former President Sam Nujoma, attended the march as was originally scheduled.Pohamba was addressing Cabinet in the morning.Rukoro also called on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab, to make public the Members of Parliament Assets Register for public scrutiny.Doing so would not only be in the interest of transparency, but would also allow for better management of public funds and would reveal whether allegations of conflict of interest against MPs are valid or not, he said.’I make this appeal of course on the assumption that this country is a democracy. We as citizens have certain rights to be informed,’ Rukoro said.Yesterday’s march was attended by a host of personalities from business, politics and the clergy.The ‘Great March Against Corruption’, organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Women’s Action for Development (WAD), started at around 08h00 on Windhoek’s Independence Avenue and culminated with a ceremony at the Parliament Gardens.Among the speakers were ACC Director Paulus Noa, WAD Executive Director Veronica de Klerk and United Nations Resident Co-ordinator Simon Nhongo, as well as the Executive Chairperson of Pupkewitz Holdings, veteran businessman Harold Pupkewitz.President Pohamba’s speech was read by the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Willem Konjore.It reaffirmed Government’s commitment to fighting corruption, pointing to a number of regional and international agreements signed by Namibia as proof.’To this end, the Government commits itself to render the necessary support to the law enforcement agencies, including the ACC, to ensure that crimes, corrupt practices and all related social injustices are dealt with effectively,’ Pohamba said.Other speakers encouraged whistle-blowers to come forward, and urged corrupt individuals to stop.The ACC’s new website, which can be accessed at www.accnamibia.org, was also launched at the event. The website currently features information on the ACC and documents cases successfully pursued by the graft-buster.