THE Avid saga, perhaps more than any other, has truly captured the public imagination.While it is not the biggest case of its kind, especially when compared to something like the ODC debacle where we are talking about N$100 million as opposed to N$30-odd million going astray, it is perhaps because of the origin of the monies in a social investment fund, and also because many of the players are well known around the country.
But talk of the town it is, and will remain so, until the closing chapter of what many are already dubbing a Namibian ‘soap opera’. THERE appears to be a cathartic impulse at work in Namibia at present, because the media can barely cope with the flurry of cases involving mismanagement or abuse of public monies in various institutions.The Avid saga tops the list on grounds of national appeal .And while Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote has already rebuked the sometimes unruly audience who haven’t seen such a show in years, the tendency is for those in the already overflowing courtroom to participate and pass judgement inasmuch as they are allowed to.The audience itself is made up of a motley crew of those AWOL from work, the curious, the high profile, and other scamsters themselves looking for well-heeled targets to set their sights on in the future, all of whom are relishing the entertainment.The Avid hearing has all the ingredients to attract public attention: people in high places who are about to be brought down a couple of notches; major amounts of money; the intrigue of how some beneficiaries have mowed through their ill-gotten gains; all mixed in with the politics of church and, of course, of state.Other cases unfolding will probably not resonate quite as much in terms of public appeal.One particular scam, now deemed ‘closed’ by the Minister of Justice, Pendukeni Ithana, could generate public interest.I personally fail to see why no-one is made accountable for a N$3,1 million arms purchase which went wrong, resulting in the disappearance of this money for all time.The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence at the time still needs to answer publicly to this loss.Although the Ministry itself may have tried to trace the money and those who scammed them, without success, someone surely has to be accountable at the end of the day.The shift of the individual in question from one Ministry to another is simply not enough.An inquiry there should be, in some form or another.So hopefully Ms Ithana will ensure that this happens.The drought aid foodstuffs allowed to rot in a Katima warehouse has been probed by Government, and we understand that a set of recommendations of actions against those responsible will in fact be forthcoming.This is encouraging.Again, a matter that must not be allowed to disappear like so many others before.People have become involved in the corruption dramas, right across the spectrum of society.Everyone has an opinion, a view, almost all of which are condemnatory.The public has been engaged, and the most positive aspect coming out of an otherwise depressing affair, is the fact that people appear to be finally making a connection between misspent State funds and the betterment of the lives of most Namibians, particularly the disadvantaged.Underlying what may well be an affair that both engages the interest of caring members of society as well as caters for the more frivolous among us, is a desperately serious issue which Namibians need to address: the rampant problems besieging us in terms of the abuse of public office and public money for personal greed and gain.We know that the cases mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg.We know that the Avid case is by no means unique.We know it is not confined to Government ranks alone; that the private sector is inevitably a partner in much of the wrongdoing; and we know that it stretches beyond the borders of our country.We seriously need to contain it.There are people who should not emerge from this inquiry unscathed.So we await urgent action from the top political hierarchy to the law enforcement agencies to take the required steps to show that the country means business in the fight against corruption.Individual citizens have a duty too.Not to simply enjoy the antics and entertainment provided by some of these sorry characters, but to ensure that they themselves do all within their power to stop corruption at even the most modest levels of society.THERE appears to be a cathartic impulse at work in Namibia at present, because the media can barely cope with the flurry of cases involving mismanagement or abuse of public monies in various institutions.The Avid saga tops the list on grounds of national appeal .And while Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote has already rebuked the sometimes unruly audience who haven’t seen such a show in years, the tendency is for those in the already overflowing courtroom to participate and pass judgement inasmuch as they are allowed to.The audience itself is made up of a motley crew of those AWOL from work, the curious, the high profile, and other scamsters themselves looking for well-heeled targets to set their sights on in the future, all of whom are relishing the entertainment.The Avid hearing has all the ingredients to attract public attention: people in high places who are about to be brought down a couple of notches; major amounts of money; the intrigue of how some beneficiaries have mowed through their ill-gotten gains; all mixed in with the politics of church and, of course, of state.Other cases unfolding will probably not resonate quite as much in terms of public appeal.One particular scam, now deemed ‘closed’ by the Minister of Justice, Pendukeni Ithana, could generate public interest.I personally fail to see why no-one is made accountable for a N$3,1 million arms purchase which went wrong, resulting in the disappearance of this money for all time.The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence at the time still needs to answer publicly to this loss.Although the Ministry itself may have tried to trace the money and those who scammed them, without success, someone surely has to be accountable at the end of the day.The shift of the individual in question from one Ministry to another is simply not enough.An inquiry there should be, in some form or another.So hopefully Ms Ithana will ensure that this happens.The drought aid foodstuffs allowed to rot in a Katima warehouse has been probed by Government, and we understand that a set of recommendations of actions against those responsible will in fact be forthcoming.This is encouraging.Again, a matter that must not be allowed to disappear like so many others before.People have become involved in the corruption dramas, right across the spectrum of society.Everyone has an opinion, a view, almost all of which are condemnatory.The public has been engaged, and the most positive aspect coming out of an otherwise depressing affair, is the fact that people appear to be finally making a connection between misspent State funds and the betterment of the lives of most Namibians, particularly the disadvantaged.Underlying what may well be an affair that both engages the interest of caring members of society as well as caters for the more frivolous among us, is a desperately serious issue which Namibians need to address: the rampant problems besieging us in terms of the abuse of public office and public money for personal greed and gain.We know that the cases mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg.We know that the Avid case is by no means unique.We know it is not confined to Government ranks alone; that the private sector is inevitably a partner in much of the wrongdoing; and we know that it stretches beyond the borders of our country.We seriously need to contain it.There are people who should not emerge from this inquiry unscathed.So we await urgent action from the top political hierarchy to the law enforcement agencies to take the required steps to show that the country means business in the fight against corruption.Individual citizens have a duty too.Not to simply enjoy the antics and entertainment provided by some of these sorry characters, but to ensure that they themselves do all within their power to stop corruption at even the most modest levels of society.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!