President not condoning corruption: Kawana

THE Office of the President and the Congress of Democrats (CoD) are at loggerheads over the perceived reluctance by the Head of State to act against alleged corrupt top politicians.

Last month CoD president Ben Ulenga claimed that senior Government officials and the Mayor of Windhoek, who owed the City huge debts, had the blessing of President Hifikepunye Pohamba. “It is a situation that President Pohamba supports.For how can he be quiet about it,” Ulenga told the party’s National Working Group in Windhoek recently.He said Pohamba was the same person who flew to Katima Mulilo and promised stern action when the rotten food scandal was uncovered at the M’pacha Military Base in 2005.However, nothing tangible happened to the culprits.Almost a month after the CoD allegations Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, made a ministerial statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday denying that the President was turning a blind to corrupt practices.Kawana said the municipal bills raised by the CoD leader were receiving attention from the Anti-Corruption Commission, an institution established to investigate such matters.”It is unfair to expect the President to take action on the allegations contained in a newspaper.Such action would be tantamount to a kangaroo court,” he said.He said newspapers had no powers to prosecute and the “president cannot act merely on the basis of a newspaper article” when there were State institutions to do that.He said the officials were also innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.He said the Office of the President was thus dismayed by Ulenga’s statement.CoD National Chairman Tsudao Gurirab has, however, hit back at the Office of the President saying the response was selective and failed to address their concern about the Caprivi rotten food saga.He said CoD hoped that Kawana’s response was not a suggestion that Pohamba was beyond criticism or interrogation.”Mr Kawana should accept the fact that President Pohamba is not above criticism, especially when he says one thing on corruption but does another, especially when it came to the Caprivi rotten food saga,” Gurirab said.He said the party stood by what Ulenga said.An exposé in a local weekly last month revealed huge amounts owed to the City by high-ranking officials and even the Windhoek Mayor.This sparked outrage, especially because houses of impoverished debtors have been seized and sold on auction.The Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed an investigation with regard to the said accounts.”It is a situation that President Pohamba supports.For how can he be quiet about it,” Ulenga told the party’s National Working Group in Windhoek recently.He said Pohamba was the same person who flew to Katima Mulilo and promised stern action when the rotten food scandal was uncovered at the M’pacha Military Base in 2005.However, nothing tangible happened to the culprits.Almost a month after the CoD allegations Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Albert Kawana, made a ministerial statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday denying that the President was turning a blind to corrupt practices.Kawana said the municipal bills raised by the CoD leader were receiving attention from the Anti-Corruption Commission, an institution established to investigate such matters.”It is unfair to expect the President to take action on the allegations contained in a newspaper.Such action would be tantamount to a kangaroo court,” he said.He said newspapers had no powers to prosecute and the “president cannot act merely on the basis of a newspaper article” when there were State institutions to do that.He said the officials were also innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.He said the Office of the President was thus dismayed by Ulenga’s statement.CoD National Chairman Tsudao Gurirab has, however, hit back at the Office of the President saying the response was selective and failed to address their concern about the Caprivi rotten food saga.He said CoD hoped that Kawana’s response was not a suggestion that Pohamba was beyond criticism or interrogation.”Mr Kawana should accept the fact that President Pohamba is not above criticism, especially when he says one thing on corruption but does another, especially when it came to the Caprivi rotten food saga,” Gurirab said.He said the party stood by what Ulenga said.An exposé in a local weekly last month revealed huge amounts owed to the City by high-ranking officials and even the Windhoek Mayor.This sparked outrage, especially because houses of impoverished debtors have been seized and sold on auction.The Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed an investigation with regard to the said accounts.