Corruption: ‘Investors are watching’

CIVIL society leaders, members of the private sector and economic analysts have expressed concern at the rising level of corruption in Namibia, warning that the country’s image in the international arena is at stake.

Speaking in separate interviews, key stakeholders said efforts to market Namibia to foreign investors were most likely to be affected by the growing corruption and mismanagement scandals that have rocked the country of late. Dorkas Phillemon, a public relations officer with the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), expressed concern at the trend and urged Government to act decisively.Phillemon said the recent revelations about Avid Investment, which has been unable to repay the N$30 million invested by the Social Security Commission (SSC), and the Offshore Development Company’s missing N$100 million were tainting the country’s image.Besides the fact that the international investors’ community was “watching closely”, she said, corruption scandals also affected ordinary citizens, who had to pay the price in the long run.Only last week the NSHR published a report stating that one in three Namibians had experienced corruption at State institutions.NSHR Executive DirDorkas Phillemon, a public relations officer with the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), expressed concern at the trend and urged Government to act decisively.Phillemon said the recent revelations about Avid Investment, which has been unable to repay the N$30 million invested by the Social Security Commission (SSC), and the Offshore Development Company’s missing N$100 million were tainting the country’s image. Besides the fact that the international investors’ community was “watching closely”, she said, corruption scandals also affected ordinary citizens, who had to pay the price in the long run.Only last week the NSHR published a report stating that one in three Namibians had experienced corruption at State institutions.NSHR Executive Dir