Integrity and Public Office

Minister Mac Hengari shall remain innocent until proven otherwise.

If he escapes all 11 accusations, now under investigation, made against him by a woman alleging they had had sexual relations since she was a 15-year-old, even better for him.

But it’s a travesty of good governance that influential figures seem to play down such serious criminal allegations purely arguing that Hengari has not been found guilty.

What’s not being addressed is the integrity and ethics of public office. Hengari occupies an important, influential and powerful role that can ill afford what has ballooned into one of the most egregious criminal probes anyone can face.

It is more than a mere distraction. With a distraction, a Cabinet minister will struggle to concentrate on the vital work of delivering the best services to the public. Minister Hengari’s full attention can surely not be where it should be.

The sense of ethics and integrity among government leaders in Namibia is so low we won’t even dwell on the matter of bringing public office into disrepute.

Integrity, ethics and the occupation of public office are among key issues president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah indicated would not be business as usual under her leadership.

Police commissioner Joseph Shikongo and his appointing authority, Hage Geingob, showed little regard for the integrity of holding public office when Shikongo was investigated for allegedly causing the death of three young people in a car accident in the wee dark hours one fateful morning.

Shikongo remained active in his role while his junior investigated several allegations, including misconduct and a cover-up, against his police chief.

Again, those in power hid behind the excuse that Shikongo remains innocent until proven guilty.

They cared little about the integrity of the process and the loss of public trust in the police.

Similarly in Hengari’s case, influential figures seem to dismiss the adage that ‘justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done’.

By justice we mean that even alleged perpetrators like Shikongo and Hengari could suffer long-term harm if they are declared innocent if the public perceives they escaped because they occupied powerful positions, especially during the investigations.

Independent investigations and vacating the position of power and influence in the interim would have bolstered the integrity of the process and the system in both Shikongo’s and Hengari’s cases.

That our new president, who once served as the minister of women’s affairs, does not seem to see the damage being caused in this male chauvinistic society is disturbing.

The president’s handling of the Hengari case may well define whether she really means business unusual.

Integrity in good governance speaks louder than the eventual verdict whenever that gets delivered by our slow-grinding system.