Stolen millions must be returned, says Pohamba

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba says all the public money that has gone missing in dubious investments must be returned as soon as possible, as it belongs to the Namibian people.

Addressing more than 10 000 people who volunteered work on the Northern Railway Project at Ondangwa over the weekend, Pohamba said justice must prevail in Namibia. He was referring to the missing N$30 million that the Social Security Commission invested with Avid Investment Corporation and the Offshore Development Company’s missing N$100 million invested with Great Triangle Investments.”Every day, I read in the newspapers about the Namibian nation’s assets that have been stolen from them.Some years ago, we were talking about the Social Security Commission’s money that had been squandered by those who were working there.This was the money of the people of this country.We then let those involved go and we employed other people, and we brought in new people, but now N$30 million is gone again,” the President said.He said N$7 million had also been stolen from the Swapo Party and nobody knew where this money was.”Swapo Party’s N$7 million was the Namibian people’s money.Where is this money?” Pohamba asked.Referring to the ODC’s missing N$100 million, he said: “Tell me, what is this? Is this not corruption? What do you call the taking away of the missing N$30 million? Is that not corruption?” Drawing enthusiastic applause from the large crowd, the President added: “For me, the stolen N$30 million was daylight robbery and all this money must be brought back.”He said an anti-corruption commission would be created to combat this evil, “and then we’ll see what those who are challenging me that there is no corruption in Namibia have to say”.”I want to see justice working in this country and criminals should be arrested,” Pohamba said.However, the President criticised the Police officers who had been guarding Avid kingpin Lazarus Kandara for having allowed him to get his hands on a gun while in detention.It was shocking that an arrested man could have been carrying a gun and committed suicide in the presence of Police officers, he said.Pohamba also condemned the handling of the drought relief food that was left to rot in a warehouse in Caprivi, saying that those responsible must be brought to justice.He also referred to the NDF’s botched arms deal, in which N$3 million was paid for equipment that never arrived, and the money was never returned.”People, what is happening in Namibia? I want to see where that money is, that N$3 million, those who are responsible must tell the people of this country where it is.Some people want to call it negligence.The N$3 million – negligence; the drought relief food – negligence.It would be unfair to let those responsible go unpunished.””I have been a Minister for 15 years, but I still do not have the wealth that some people have accumulated in a short time.You know where such a person is working, what salary he is getting, but you will find him having many nice houses – one in Swakopmund, some in Windhoek.Where is he getting all this money? “So, we will investigate …their businesses and companies, and we will find them and expose them,” President Pohamba said.He was referring to the missing N$30 million that the Social Security Commission invested with Avid Investment Corporation and the Offshore Development Company’s missing N$100 million invested with Great Triangle Investments.”Every day, I read in the newspapers about the Namibian nation’s assets that have been stolen from them.Some years ago, we were talking about the Social Security Commission’s money that had been squandered by those who were working there.This was the money of the people of this country.We then let those involved go and we employed other people, and we brought in new people, but now N$30 million is gone again,” the President said.He said N$7 million had also been stolen from the Swapo Party and nobody knew where this money was.”Swapo Party’s N$7 million was the Namibian people’s money.Where is this money?” Pohamba asked.Referring to the ODC’s missing N$100 million, he said: “Tell me, what is this? Is this not corruption? What do you call the taking away of the missing N$30 million? Is that not corruption?” Drawing enthusiastic applause from the large crowd, the President added: “For me, the stolen N$30 million was daylight robbery and all this money must be brought back.”He said an anti-corruption commission would be created to combat this evil, “and then we’ll see what those who are challenging me that there is no corruption in Namibia have to say”.”I want to see justice working in this country and criminals should be arrested,” Pohamba said.However, the President criticised the Police officers who had been guarding Avid kingpin Lazarus Kandara for having allowed him to get his hands on a gun while in detention.It was shocking that an arrested man could have been carrying a gun and committed suicide in the presence of Police officers, he said.Pohamba also condemned the handling of the drought relief food that was left to rot in a warehouse in Caprivi, saying that those responsible must be brought to justice.He also referred to the NDF’s botched arms deal, in which N$3 million was paid for equipment that never arrived, and the money was never returned.”People, what is happening in Namibia? I want to see where that money is, that N$3 million, those who are responsible must tell the people of this country where it is.Some people want to call it negligence.The N$3 million – negligence; the drought relief food – negligence.It would be unfair to let those responsible go unpunished.””I have been a Minister for 15 years, but I still do not have the wealth that some people have accumulated in a short time.You know where such a person is working, what salary he is getting, but you will find him having many nice houses – one in Swakopmund, some in Windhoek.Where is he getting all this money? “So, we will investigate …their businesses and companies, and we will find them and expose them,” President Pohamba said.