Proposed graft busters are dark horses: MPs

OPPOSITION parties yesterday expressed concern that the two people nominated to head the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are little known to them and the public.

Those who raised concern said that they only had curriculum vitaes on which to base their decision of whether or not to agree to the nomination of Magistrate Paulus Noa as the ACC Director and legal drafter Erna van der Merwe as the Deputy Director. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Nahas Angula put the names to the National Assembly after he said a panel did not find the majority of the candidates suitable for the posts.The panel was then asked to rate the candidates that they had shortlisted.The Congress of Democrats’ Tsudao Gurirab yesterday suggested that the Act be amended to require that nominees appear in a public forum for scrutiny.He suggested that they at least appear before a parliamentary committee.”In combating corruption, credibility is everything,” said Gurirab.Gurirab said the CoD would be monitoring the work of the commission with “the eye of an eagle”.He said if the institution was well governed and conducted itself in a clear and transparent manner, the individuals could “come and go” without it falling apart.Republican Party leader Henk Mudge also expressed reservation about approving the nominations without knowing the people.He said their CVs did not reflect anything negative about them, but maintained that for such important positions, they should have at least been presented to a parliamentary committee.Further, Mudge said while he did not doubt the capabilities of the panel that selected the pair, he felt uneasy about being the one to take the final decision to appoint them when he did not know much about their character.Only Minister of Youth John Mutorwa called for the immediate appointment of Noa and Van der Merwe, saying it was to be expected that as pioneers of a new institution there were always going to be reservations about making appointments.”But I think let’s give them a chance.We are always afraid of the unknown,” he said.Mutorwa opined that the Act contained sufficient provisions to remove people from the commission who don’t perform their duties as outlined.The debate will continue today.Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Nahas Angula put the names to the National Assembly after he said a panel did not find the majority of the candidates suitable for the posts.The panel was then asked to rate the candidates that they had shortlisted.The Congress of Democrats’ Tsudao Gurirab yesterday suggested that the Act be amended to require that nominees appear in a public forum for scrutiny.He suggested that they at least appear before a parliamentary committee.”In combating corruption, credibility is everything,” said Gurirab.Gurirab said the CoD would be monitoring the work of the commission with “the eye of an eagle”.He said if the institution was well governed and conducted itself in a clear and transparent manner, the individuals could “come and go” without it falling apart.Republican Party leader Henk Mudge also expressed reservation about approving the nominations without knowing the people.He said their CVs did not reflect anything negative about them, but maintained that for such important positions, they should have at least been presented to a parliamentary committee.Further, Mudge said while he did not doubt the capabilities of the panel that selected the pair, he felt uneasy about being the one to take the final decision to appoint them when he did not know much about their character.Only Minister of Youth John Mutorwa called for the immediate appointment of Noa and Van der Merwe, saying it was to be expected that as pioneers of a new institution there were always going to be reservations about making appointments.”But I think let’s give them a chance.We are always afraid of the unknown,” he said.Mutorwa opined that the Act contained sufficient provisions to remove people from the commission who don’t perform their duties as outlined.The debate will continue today.