Small fry won’t cut it

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) must start gunning for the ‘big fish’ if it is to make its mark in Namibia, the National Assembly has been told in no uncertain terms.

Contributing to the debate on the budget of the ACC on Tuesday, Congress of Democrats Vice President Nora Schimming-Chase said she was “extremely worried” that the ACC, set up to combat corruption, had not yet landed a ‘big fish’. “School secretaries are being brought to book while we have cases of N$100 million, N$30 million and other amounts that have gone missing.Now we are told that almost N$6 million more will be spent on the office.We must get at least one big fish,” she said.She also fumed at the sluggish pace of investigations related to the missing N$100 million at the Offshore Development Company (ODC) and the N$30 million of the Social Security Commission-Avid investment scandal.”When I wanted to ask a question in February, we were told that it is at a sensitive stage.How far are the sensitive negotiations? Surely by now, it is not sensitive any more,” Schimming-Chase said.On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila said N$11,25 million had been allocated to the ACC.Last year it received N$6,58 million.DTA Member of Parliament (MP) Phillemon Moongo said the ACC needed to be more visible for people in rural areas and N$11,25 million was not enough.”Corruption is a cancer.Put it in the school syllabus,” Moongo suggested.Swapo MP Hage Geingob said he appreciated what the ACC had done so far but warned against potential wrong whistle-blowers.”Even in soccer, the game I love, we have whistle-blowers called referees.They also make mistakes,” Geingob said.Amathila called for patience, adding that the agency only investigates cases and does not prosecute people.The N$11,25 million budget for the ACC was approved without much debate.”School secretaries are being brought to book while we have cases of N$100 million, N$30 million and other amounts that have gone missing.Now we are told that almost N$6 million more will be spent on the office.We must get at least one big fish,” she said. She also fumed at the sluggish pace of investigations related to the missing N$100 million at the Offshore Development Company (ODC) and the N$30 million of the Social Security Commission-Avid investment scandal.”When I wanted to ask a question in February, we were told that it is at a sensitive stage.How far are the sensitive negotiations? Surely by now, it is not sensitive any more,” Schimming-Chase said.On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila said N$11,25 million had been allocated to the ACC.Last year it received N$6,58 million.DTA Member of Parliament (MP) Phillemon Moongo said the ACC needed to be more visible for people in rural areas and N$11,25 million was not enough.”Corruption is a cancer.Put it in the school syllabus,” Moongo suggested.Swapo MP Hage Geingob said he appreciated what the ACC had done so far but warned against potential wrong whistle-blowers.”Even in soccer, the game I love, we have whistle-blowers called referees.They also make mistakes,” Geingob said.Amathila called for patience, adding that the agency only investigates cases and does not prosecute people.The N$11,25 million budget for the ACC was approved without much debate.