Inquiry into DBC, Amcom takes first steps

THE Presidential inquiry into the defunct Development Brigade Corporation (DBC) and Amcom – expected to be politically charged – has yet to decide whether to have public hearings as in previous commissions of inquiry.

Last week the commission began inviting written submissions to help map its course. A member of the commission, Festus Mbandeka, said the inquiry had just begun “basic consultations” and that it would be a while before they “pulled” all information together.”It’s almost impossible to conclude something at this stage.We have to get submissions, look at them and see how best to arrange people who might be able to give information,” said Mbandeka.Submissions would be expected until the end of next month.President Sam Nujoma appointed the Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Affairs, Management and Operation of the Development Brigade Corporation (DBC) and Amalgamated Commercial Holding (Amcom) on June 3 in a move that could be seen as part of what has been described as a “victimisation campaign” against former Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya.Tentative moves to set up an inquiry into the DBC and Amcom began at the time when three Swapo candidates were engaged in a succession race that caused a rift within the party.President Nujoma himself accused some of his own comrades in the Swapo leadership of being imperialist agents.The attacks were seen by many as directed at then Foreign Affairs Minister Hamutenya, who was abruptly fired days before the special congress of Swapo.The inquiry into the two institutions comes long after they were shut down accompanied by considerable controversy.DBC and Amcom resorted under Hamutenya as Minister of Trade and Industry, and he was Government’s ministerial front man in setting up the DBC, which was created to accommodate liberation war soldiers.Observers say the commission of inquiry would be unlikely to escape summoning Hamutenya, if public hearings were to be held.But such a move might end up including the rest of the Cabinet, which gave approval for the closing down of the two parastatals.The Commission might be unable to decide when public hearings will be held as it would be difficult to easily access information concerning the two entities, which have no office and its former employees are scattered across the country.A member of the commission, Festus Mbandeka, said the inquiry had just begun “basic consultations” and that it would be a while before they “pulled” all information together.”It’s almost impossible to conclude something at this stage.We have to get submissions, look at them and see how best to arrange people who might be able to give information,” said Mbandeka.Submissions would be expected until the end of next month.President Sam Nujoma appointed the Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Affairs, Management and Operation of the Development Brigade Corporation (DBC) and Amalgamated Commercial Holding (Amcom) on June 3 in a move that could be seen as part of what has been described as a “victimisation campaign” against former Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya.Tentative moves to set up an inquiry into the DBC and Amcom began at the time when three Swapo candidates were engaged in a succession race that caused a rift within the party.President Nujoma himself accused some of his own comrades in the Swapo leadership of being imperialist agents.The attacks were seen by many as directed at then Foreign Affairs Minister Hamutenya, who was abruptly fired days before the special congress of Swapo.The inquiry into the two institutions comes long after they were shut down accompanied by considerable controversy.DBC and Amcom resorted under Hamutenya as Minister of Trade and Industry, and he was Government’s ministerial front man in setting up the DBC, which was created to accommodate liberation war soldiers.Observers say the commission of inquiry would be unlikely to escape summoning Hamutenya, if public hearings were to be held.But such a move might end up including the rest of the Cabinet, which gave approval for the closing down of the two parastatals.The Commission might be unable to decide when public hearings will be held as it would be difficult to easily access information concerning the two entities, which have no office and its former employees are scattered across the country.