President Pohamba on warpath over corruption

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba has repeated his call for Namibians to work together as a team in the fight against corruption.

Speaking at the official inauguration of a multi-million dollar business park at Ongwediva in the Oshana Region last week, Pohamba compared corruption to a cancer and described it as a social evil. At the same occasion, he suggested the introduction of a law to close all existing loopholes as well as to secure protection for whistle blowers and staff of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).The Head of State also used the occasion to criticise the missing N$100 million “invested” by the Offshore Development Company (ODC) in a dubious transaction.Nobody has accounted for the missing millions so far.”This is money of the people that got lost.Where is the money?” Pohamba thundered, adding that the ODC N$100 million could have been used to do many things that would have benefited the entire nation.Over the years the ODC has offered minimal information on how the N$100 million could just vanish.Rather, it has thrown a veil of secrecy around who exactly was responsible for making the investment, and has tried to fob off persistent enquiries by saying that progress was being made in tracking the money.No actual progress has ever been reported.The ODC is also the implementing agency of the Ongwediva Business Park, which is has been renamed after David Shikomba, a late freedom fighter from the area.Nampa; Additional information: Own ReporterAt the same occasion, he suggested the introduction of a law to close all existing loopholes as well as to secure protection for whistle blowers and staff of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).The Head of State also used the occasion to criticise the missing N$100 million “invested” by the Offshore Development Company (ODC) in a dubious transaction.Nobody has accounted for the missing millions so far.”This is money of the people that got lost.Where is the money?” Pohamba thundered, adding that the ODC N$100 million could have been used to do many things that would have benefited the entire nation. Over the years the ODC has offered minimal information on how the N$100 million could just vanish.Rather, it has thrown a veil of secrecy around who exactly was responsible for making the investment, and has tried to fob off persistent enquiries by saying that progress was being made in tracking the money.No actual progress has ever been reported.The ODC is also the implementing agency of the Ongwediva Business Park, which is has been renamed after David Shikomba, a late freedom fighter from the area.Nampa; Additional information: Own Reporter