Kapia ‘must face music’

THE youth wing of the Congress of Democrats has called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to suspend Paulus Kapia, Deputy Minister of Works.

Kapia has been named as a director in Avid Investments, which the court wants to probe on the whereabouts of N$30 million in public funds entrusted the company for investment by the Social Security Commission. The Young Democrats said the “scandal” saw poor workers losing out on N$30 million and the Swapo Youth League Secretary needed to take the blame for his involvement.”It is painful to note that despite President Pohamba’s plea for good governance, a Deputy Minister in his Government is suspected of being involved in a major scandal barely four months into office,” said Natji Tjirera of the Young Democrats.While respecting Kapia’s constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, Tjirare said his suspension could prove useful to an investigation free from political interference.”We believe that the pronouncements being made by the President on the fight against corruption are facing a real test now.”We call on the President to set a personal example as he preaches by relieving Kapia of his ministerial duties and order an extensive investigation,” he said.The CoD Youth feel an investigation would lay to rest concerns of workers who might have lost N$30 million indirectly.Tjirare also expressed concern about SSC investments.”The Social Security Commission is becoming an institute where all unscrupulous elements of society go for quick gain and this should be stopped immediately because the money being stolen from the SSC is being deducted monthly from the poor of this country and greedy culprits siphoning the SSC of millions should be brought to book,” he said.The SSC invested N$30 million through Avid in late January for a four-month period.According to the SSC that was after Kapia had been “applying pressure from higher political authority”, with it having been pointed out to the SSC that the Swapo Youth League apparently holds 80 per cent of the shares in Avid.By May 24 the investment period was over and N$31,47 million was supposed to be returned to the SSC.Close to two months later, the money has yet to reappear.The Young Democrats said the “scandal” saw poor workers losing out on N$30 million and the Swapo Youth League Secretary needed to take the blame for his involvement.”It is painful to note that despite President Pohamba’s plea for good governance, a Deputy Minister in his Government is suspected of being involved in a major scandal barely four months into office,” said Natji Tjirera of the Young Democrats.While respecting Kapia’s constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, Tjirare said his suspension could prove useful to an investigation free from political interference.”We believe that the pronouncements being made by the President on the fight against corruption are facing a real test now.”We call on the President to set a personal example as he preaches by relieving Kapia of his ministerial duties and order an extensive investigation,” he said.The CoD Youth feel an investigation would lay to rest concerns of workers who might have lost N$30 million indirectly.Tjirare also expressed concern about SSC investments.”The Social Security Commission is becoming an institute where all unscrupulous elements of society go for quick gain and this should be stopped immediately because the money being stolen from the SSC is being deducted monthly from the poor of this country and greedy culprits siphoning the SSC of millions should be brought to book,” he said.The SSC invested N$30 million through Avid in late January for a four-month period.According to the SSC that was after Kapia had been “applying pressure from higher political authority”, with it having been pointed out to the SSC that the Swapo Youth League apparently holds 80 per cent of the shares in Avid.By May 24 the investment period was over and N$31,47 million was supposed to be returned to the SSC.Close to two months later, the money has yet to reappear.