Namibians should treat statements by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chief Paulus Noa about the ‘healthrot’ investigation with caution.
Noa, whose term ends in June, this week told The Namibian the ACC is still investigating corruption allegations at the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
“We are trying to connect the dots and trying to find the people who are involved in the matter,” he aid.
But how many dots is Noa trying to connect? And how long will he take to connect them while Rome metaphorically falls?
The health ministry has been a hotbed of corruption allegations for decades.
Former health minister Bernard Haufiku handed the ACC files alleging inflated prices and supplier collusion in 2020. That’s five years ago and counting.
Yet the ACC continues to make promises that it is investigating.
In the meantime, concerns over potential corruption at the ministry continue. It’s understandable that the ACC cannot prosecute without evidence and needs to do a thorough job.
It has, however, been alerted to the alleged corruption for years. Noa owes the public an explanation on why these investigations are dragging on. If he fails to do so, his indecision will cause more harm at a ministry tainted by allegations of chronic corruption.
In the end, ministry officials and their cronies will conclude that there are no consequences for stealing from the state. Witnesses and whistleblowers move on.
In June last year, health minister Esperance Luvindao went to the ACC herself to report a case. She asked the commission to investigate a syndicate allegedly stealing medicine from her ministry and selling it back to the government.
Just last week, the health ministry announced it has reassigned staff members at the medical stores implicated in fraud through the manipulation of stock data, theft, and the diversion of life-saving medicine.
The ministry alleges the scam was designed to create artificial shortages that would trigger emergency procurement.
Although the ministry should be given credit for taking action, the fact that the staff members have only been moved, and that no firm action has been taken, is concerning.
Reshuffling officials accused of wrongdoing will not solve the problem.
If Namibia is to build a healthier future, those responsible for taking action must be decisive. They must guard against protecting officials at the expense of the public.
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