Nam losing fight against corruption

THE editor of a new publication on corruption, Graham Hopwood, says Namibia is in danger of losing its way in the fight against corruption.

“There is a sense that we are looking almost completely to the ACC to deliver results while disregarding our own roles in ensuring corruption is uprooted,” he said at the launch of the booklet ‘Tackling Corruption – Opinions on the Way forward in Namibia’. Hopwood urged legislators, media, the business community and individuals to all take responsibility for the state in which the country finds itself.Institutions such as the Auditor General’s office, the ACC, the Ombudsman’s office and the Public Accounts Committee need to work together in order to be more effective and avoid duplication, Hopwood said.He likewise urged the media to invest more in investigative reporting by setting up specialised investigation desks, and tertiary institutions to re-examine their curricula to ensure their media courses are producing journalists equipped to undertake detailed investigations.”Politicians have to take the lead”, Hopwood said.”The zero tolerance rhetoric has not been taken to heart by most MPs.In official speeches we hardly hear it mentioned.MPs have to be role models, but how can they be when a sizeable number of Namibian MPs are unwilling to declare their assets and financial interests in the Register of Members’ Interests?” he said.Hopwood urged legislators, media, the business community and individuals to all take responsibility for the state in which the country finds itself.Institutions such as the Auditor General’s office, the ACC, the Ombudsman’s office and the Public Accounts Committee need to work together in order to be more effective and avoid duplication, Hopwood said.He likewise urged the media to invest more in investigative reporting by setting up specialised investigation desks, and tertiary institutions to re-examine their curricula to ensure their media courses are producing journalists equipped to undertake detailed investigations.”Politicians have to take the lead”, Hopwood said.”The zero tolerance rhetoric has not been taken to heart by most MPs.In official speeches we hardly hear it mentioned.MPs have to be role models, but how can they be when a sizeable number of Namibian MPs are unwilling to declare their assets and financial interests in the Register of Members’ Interests?” he said.