Kavango West records low rate of reporting corruption

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says the low reporting rate of corruption in the Kavango West region has prompted the commission to launch targeted sensitisation campaigns in the region.

The sensitisation campaign focusses on young people who represent the region’s future leadership, the ACC says. The commission held an engagement session at Nkurenkuru on Tuesday, urging the youth to join the fight against corruption.

Since the establishment of the Rundu office, the ACC has registered 26 corruption cases in the Kavango West and East regions, as well as the Zambezi region, with the majority concentrated in recruitment, revenue and procurement.

ACC chief public education and corruption prevention officer Paulus Lyambezi said the Kavango West region accounts for only three of these cases, with officials attributing the low number to lack of awareness and fear of victimisation among potential whistleblowers.

“We currently have 26 cases in cross-cutting areas which include recruitment, revenue and procurement.

Those are the major areas where most corruption is being recorded,” Lyambezi said.

Nkurenkuru constituency youth activist Gabriel Tenga expresses enthusiasm about the engagement outcomes, stating that the session provided comprehensive information about the Whistleblower Protection Act, which ensures anonymity for those reporting possible corruption.

He says the legal framework addresses one of the primary barriers preventing people from coming forward with information about corrupt practices.

“The Whistleblower Act actually protects you, and also ACC has mechanisms in place to also protect whistleblowers,” Tenga says.

Lyambezi said the commission has established clear procedures for handling corruption reports, with investigators employing various tactics to collect evidence while protecting whistleblower identities. Cases undergo thorough investigation before being handed over to the prosecutor general for legal action.

“If you want to remain anonymous you can do so. Your name will not be revealed, just give the information or the case that you want to report,” he said. – NAMPA

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