NUNW: Govt must get serious about corruption

THE National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) yesterday called on the Government to show its seriousness in fighting corruption, rather than just paying lip service on the issue.

NUNW Deputy Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda said that while the union fully supporting President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s stance on corruption, the union was dissatisfied “with the conspicuous absence of action” taken in recently uncovered cases of graft. “We clearly see a lot of glass houses built, making it virtually impossible for one to throw stones as one’s own glass house might be broken in the process,” Kaaronda said, “but we certainly do not believe that this should deter anyone from doing what is right and in the interest of the country.”The union protested against the continued presence of suspended Swapo Youth League Secretary Paulus Kapia in the National Assembly, saying that this was both insincere and dishonourable to the workers of the country.”As representatives of the workers of our country whose money was squandered at the Social Security Commission,” he said, “we do not see anything honourable in the continued presence of comrade Kapia in the National Assembly.”Kaaronda urged Kapia to quit the National Assembly and in so doing put the Swapo Party’s and the nation’s interests ahead of his own.He cited a number of findings made in 2001 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Development and Parastatals (CCEDP), which he said should have but didn’t bring about any change in the management of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).The committee, he said, reported that State expenditure on and lending to SOEs had increased in recent years, while a rising proportion of this money was being used on current expenditures such as salaries rather than on capital projects.It was also found that some SOEs in monopoly or near-monopoly situations were generating financial returns at levels which raised questions about their price structures, he said.He said Namibians needed to start “linking corruption to people’s pockets”, adding that “those who are corrupt are making the rest of us look lazy”.”People start asking why you’ve been working for seven years and still don’t drive a Mercedes,” he told those present.Kaaronda advised against the delay of the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Commission, although adding that it should first be considered whether the office of the Ombudsman had been used to its full capacity.He also spoke out against the fact that “inquiries have become an end in themselves”, and called for the speedy implementation of recommendations made by commissions of inquiry into various parastatals, as well as further inquiries into all other institutions where allegations of corruption have surfaced, such as the GIPF.”We clearly see a lot of glass houses built, making it virtually impossible for one to throw stones as one’s own glass house might be broken in the process,” Kaaronda said, “but we certainly do not believe that this should deter anyone from doing what is right and in the interest of the country.”The union protested against the continued presence of suspended Swapo Youth League Secretary Paulus Kapia in the National Assembly, saying that this was both insincere and dishonourable to the workers of the country.”As representatives of the workers of our country whose money was squandered at the Social Security Commission,” he said, “we do not see anything honourable in the continued presence of comrade Kapia in the National Assembly.”Kaaronda urged Kapia to quit the National Assembly and in so doing put the Swapo Party’s and the nation’s interests ahead of his own.He cited a number of findings made in 2001 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Development and Parastatals (CCEDP), which he said should have but didn’t bring about any change in the management of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).The committee, he said, reported that State expenditure on and lending to SOEs had increased in recent years, while a rising proportion of this money was being used on current expenditures such as salaries rather than on capital projects.It was also found that some SOEs in monopoly or near-monopoly situations were generating financial returns at levels which raised questions about their price structures, he said.He said Namibians needed to start “linking corruption to people’s pockets”, adding that “those who are corrupt are making the rest of us look lazy”.”People start asking why you’ve been working for seven years and still don’t drive a Mercedes,” he told those present.Kaaronda advised against the delay of the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Commission, although adding that it should first be considered whether the office of the Ombudsman had been used to its full capacity.He also spoke out against the fact that “inquiries have become an end in themselves”, and called for the speedy implementation of recommendations made by commissions of inquiry into various parastatals, as well as further inquiries into all other institutions where allegations of corruption have surfaced, such as the GIPF.