‘Greed monster’ is consuming the nation

THE MONSTER of avarice and avidity has crept into Namibia, Swapo Party Elders’ Council (SPEC) Secretary Kanana Hishoono said yesterday.

Like a thief in the night, “this huge and dangerous monster has slipped in through the back door and is eating the national cake greedily, excessively, with impunity”, Hishoono told a press conference in the capital. Hishoono said one of the aims of the liberation struggle was to reconstruct Namibia into a vibrant economy where the public wealth was shared equally.However some Namibians were greedily taking more than their slice of the “national cake”, leaving others going hungry.”Corrupt practices have become the order of the day,” Hishoono told the press briefing, where he announced the outcome of the Elders’ Council annual Central Committee meeting.He said the Social Security Commission’s missing N$30 million investment in Avid and the alleged embezzlement of more than N$2 million at Onandjokwe Hospital in the North were just two of many examples of the disturbing development of corruption in Namibia.”The Swapo Party Elders Council therefore requests and urges the law enforcement agencies to redouble their efforts and work hard to stop such evils,” said Hishoono.He said the Central Committee meeting also discussed issues such as poverty alleviation, crime, the HIV-AIDS pandemic and the state of Namibia’s education system.On poverty alleviation, the meeting recommended that proper mechanisms needed to be put in place to ensure an even distribution of wealth.Hishoono said the meeting identified alcohol and drug abuse as the main cause of crimes.”Our citizens, especially the young generation, have lost the respect of culture and tradition,” he said.The meeting also suggested that Government should consider limiting the issuing of liquor and firearms licences.”We, the citizens, must stop perpetuating crimes by our actions: hiding criminals, buying stolen goods and protecting our children when they have committed a crime,” said Hishoono.The meeting emphasised that abstinence was the best protection against the spreading of HIV-AIDS, which Hishoono said was also being exacerbated by alcohol and drug abuse.”Condoms are not 100 per cent safe,” he added.Hishoono said one of the aims of the liberation struggle was to reconstruct Namibia into a vibrant economy where the public wealth was shared equally. However some Namibians were greedily taking more than their slice of the “national cake”, leaving others going hungry.”Corrupt practices have become the order of the day,” Hishoono told the press briefing, where he announced the outcome of the Elders’ Council annual Central Committee meeting.He said the Social Security Commission’s missing N$30 million investment in Avid and the alleged embezzlement of more than N$2 million at Onandjokwe Hospital in the North were just two of many examples of the disturbing development of corruption in Namibia.”The Swapo Party Elders Council therefore requests and urges the law enforcement agencies to redouble their efforts and work hard to stop such evils,” said Hishoono.He said the Central Committee meeting also discussed issues such as poverty alleviation, crime, the HIV-AIDS pandemic and the state of Namibia’s education system.On poverty alleviation, the meeting recommended that proper mechanisms needed to be put in place to ensure an even distribution of wealth.Hishoono said the meeting identified alcohol and drug abuse as the main cause of crimes.”Our citizens, especially the young generation, have lost the respect of culture and tradition,” he said.The meeting also suggested that Government should consider limiting the issuing of liquor and firearms licences.”We, the citizens, must stop perpetuating crimes by our actions: hiding criminals, buying stolen goods and protecting our children when they have committed a crime,” said Hishoono.The meeting emphasised that abstinence was the best protection against the spreading of HIV-AIDS, which Hishoono said was also being exacerbated by alcohol and drug abuse.”Condoms are not 100 per cent safe,” he added.