Questions About Funding Priorities

ALLOW me space to raise my concern about funding in our country.

I read in a press release by NSHR about the secretive funding of N$8,4 million that was donated by our Government to the Angolan government to construct a school and revive a cemetery in Lubango. It is a good gesture.However, I am disappointed in the fact that it was done in secret.It creates doubts as to why it was done this way.Did the persons involved realise that the nation would not approve, so they decided to do it out of the public eye? When donations are made they are usually done in public and the media report on it.Anyway, my concern is that in Namibia we have a history of funding what seems like unnecessary things.Once again I am left wondering because last week I attended a youth conference on corruption and Paulus Noa, Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, addressed us.Among other things he said they were given a N$6 million budget on which to operate.I immediately asked myself how things work in terms of funding.Is it corruption when the Government gives N$8,4 million to Lubango and only N$6 million to the Anti-Corruption Commission, or is it because the Anti-Corruption Commission is not viewed as important? Or is it that the Anti-Corruption Commission does not have strong advocates? It is and should be viewed as a very important entity because its stability will benefit the nation and see to it that the taxpayers’ money is used to their benefit.I urge Mr Noa to look into this matter and find out if this money was approved following the right procedures and not meant to benefit certain individuals only.Nadia Ihuhua WindhoekIt is a good gesture.However, I am disappointed in the fact that it was done in secret.It creates doubts as to why it was done this way.Did the persons involved realise that the nation would not approve, so they decided to do it out of the public eye? When donations are made they are usually done in public and the media report on it.Anyway, my concern is that in Namibia we have a history of funding what seems like unnecessary things.Once again I am left wondering because last week I attended a youth conference on corruption and Paulus Noa, Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, addressed us.Among other things he said they were given a N$6 million budget on which to operate.I immediately asked myself how things work in terms of funding.Is it corruption when the Government gives N$8,4 million to Lubango and only N$6 million to the Anti-Corruption Commission, or is it because the Anti-Corruption Commission is not viewed as important? Or is it that the Anti-Corruption Commission does not have strong advocates? It is and should be viewed as a very important entity because its stability will benefit the nation and see to it that the taxpayers’ money is used to their benefit.I urge Mr Noa to look into this matter and find out if this money was approved following the right procedures and not meant to benefit certain individuals only.Nadia Ihuhua Windhoek