Pohamba ‘blows the whistle’ on corruption

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday blew the whistle on corruption as he launched the zero-tolerance campaign in the capital.

Pohamba ended his speech by symbolically blowing a whistle to signal the start of the campaign, which is sponsored to the tune of N$5 million by the American, Swedish and Finnish governments and is spearheaded by the Namibia Institute for Democracy. The NID will work closely with the newly established Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Ombudsman and various civil society organisations and private sector institutions.Pohamba, who has adopted zero tolerance for waste and corruption since his first day in office, said he expected the ACC to carry out its mandate “forcefully, without fear or favour”.He said the new campaign was a vivid example demonstrating the willingness of society to wipe out corruption.”If we, all of us, do not do our part, the evils of mismanagement and dishonesty in public affairs will rob our people of the possibilities and opportunities to realise their full potential,” he said.The four-year zero-tolerance campaign aims to support public institutions through training and technical assistance in anti-corruption and the implementation of integrity systems.Members of civil-society organisations will be educated on corruption in order to train other civic groups to address instances of malfeasance and mismanagement.A survey that tracks instances of corruption as reported in the Namibian media between 2004 and 2005 will be conducted, and an awareness campaign will be run to educate the public on integrity, transparency and corruption.Pohamba said it was important to ensure that the people were not mere spectators but active participants in the process of governance and in shaping their own destiny.He called on all leaders and people in positions of trust to carry out their duties not for personal gain, but the greater good of the aspirations of the Namibian people and the public interest.He said he was pleased that the public had responded positively to the campaign against corruption.Speaking at the same ceremony, the Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Noa, called for legislation to protect whistle-blowers.”They can be of great source of information to the commission,” he said.Noa told the gathering that his commission would not rest on its laurels but would work hard to expose corruption and have the criminals dealt with.Theunis Keulder, Executive Director of NID, said the first workshops to train the trainers would start in May.The NID will work closely with the newly established Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Ombudsman and various civil society organisations and private sector institutions.Pohamba, who has adopted zero tolerance for waste and corruption since his first day in office, said he expected the ACC to carry out its mandate “forcefully, without fear or favour”.He said the new campaign was a vivid example demonstrating the willingness of society to wipe out corruption.”If we, all of us, do not do our part, the evils of mismanagement and dishonesty in public affairs will rob our people of the possibilities and opportunities to realise their full potential,” he said.The four-year zero-tolerance campaign aims to support public institutions through training and technical assistance in anti-corruption and the implementation of integrity systems.Members of civil-society organisations will be educated on corruption in order to train other civic groups to address instances of malfeasance and mismanagement.A survey that tracks instances of corruption as reported in the Namibian media between 2004 and 2005 will be conducted, and an awareness campaign will be run to educate the public on integrity, transparency and corruption.Pohamba said it was important to ensure that the people were not mere spectators but active participants in the process of governance and in shaping their own destiny.He called on all leaders and people in positions of trust to carry out their duties not for personal gain, but the greater good of the aspirations of the Namibian people and the public interest.He said he was pleased that the public had responded positively to the campaign against corruption.Speaking at the same ceremony, the Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Noa, called for legislation to protect whistle-blowers.”They can be of great source of information to the commission,” he said.Noa told the gathering that his commission would not rest on its laurels but would work hard to expose corruption and have the criminals dealt with.Theunis Keulder, Executive Director of NID, said the first workshops to train the trainers would start in May.