President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says increasing funding to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) alone will not effectively combat corruption in Namibia.
She was responding to concerns raised by official opposition leader Imms Nashinge over the ACC’s N$109-million allocation for the 2026/27 financial year, announced during her state of the nation address (Sona) on Wednesday.
Nashinge said while corruption should be treated as treason, the government must match its rhetoric with sufficient funding to enable the ACC to operate without constraints.
However, Nandi-Ndaitwah said financial resources alone are insufficient without a shift in mindset.
“Fighting corruption is not simply about making millions available, unless those resources are directed at changing the mindset of those involved,” she said.
The president said even allocating the entire national budget to the ACC would be ineffective if people do not change their attitudes toward corruption.
She called for deeper psychological and ethical reform, noting concern over Namibia’s reputation regarding corruption.
“It is sad and embarrassing. Yes, we must fund the ACC, but we must move away from the belief that more money alone will solve the problem,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised that the fight against corruption must begin with individual accountability and internal change.
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