‘The Looting Continues’

PLEASE allow me to contribute the following to the ongoing national debate on State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The different views being expressed on changes proposed to the Bill on SOEs make interesting reading. One wonders about the hidden costs – probably not mentioned – in the current Bill under consideration.To this, one also wonders how much the members of the SOE Governance Council are going to be paid in the form of sitting fees.As expressed by Henning Melber in his letter to The Namibian on Tuesday, 28 February 2006, page 11, the popular struggle days’ slogan ‘A luta continua’ – in my opinion – is slowly becoming ‘the looting continues’.Indeed, it is continuing unabated.For the past 16 years, there has been much looting of national resources by self-serving and corrupt sycophants.Self-enrichment schemes have become the order of the day and no one dares to speak out.We have had various schemes introduced in the name of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), all with the same faces and most, if not all, have failed or are busy failing now.Now, the country is seeing a number of Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs) opening their doors all over the country.Do we really need this? How did these schemes originate and who is benefiting from them? Are they meant to benefit some Councillors or relatives of some high-placed people? It is high time that an investigation is launched to determine where the idea of REDs originated and their purpose.Quite frankly, it is not necessary to have two middlemen between NamPower and the consumer.Who pays both middlemen and to whose benefit? In Windhoek, the City of Windhoek denies that there will be extra cost to the consumer when CentralRed is introduced.Watch out and see.This is a long-term strategy to make money for certain individuals.REDs are probably required for far-out places that do not fall under any municipality.Very soon, someone will come up with yet another ‘brilliant idea’ of introducing the Regional Water Distributors (REWADs) (or something similar to the REDs).Then again, we will have two middlemen between NamWater and the Consumer.Well! How are we delivering services to the poor if these schemes are created to rob the very same poor they pretend to be serving, of their hard-earned cash? Are we really geared towards Vision 2030 with the current state of affairs? This is utter corruption.I think we must kiss Vision 2030 goodbye NOW while there is time, to avoid disappointment when we have to look back at our achievements.Such cases present the first test for the Anti Corruption Commission.What needs competition are economic SOEs such as Telecom, MTC etc., and not service-oriented SOEs.Let’s define our priorities and let ‘the looting’ be stopped immediately.Need For Change Via e-mail Note: Name and address provided – EdOne wonders about the hidden costs – probably not mentioned – in the current Bill under consideration.To this, one also wonders how much the members of the SOE Governance Council are going to be paid in the form of sitting fees.As expressed by Henning Melber in his letter to The Namibian on Tuesday, 28 February 2006, page 11, the popular struggle days’ slogan ‘A luta continua’ – in my opinion – is slowly becoming ‘the looting continues’.Indeed, it is continuing unabated.For the past 16 years, there has been much looting of national resources by self-serving and corrupt sycophants.Self-enrichment schemes have become the order of the day and no one dares to speak out.We have had various schemes introduced in the name of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), all with the same faces and most, if not all, have failed or are busy failing now.Now, the country is seeing a number of Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs) opening their doors all over the country.Do we really need this? How did these schemes originate and who is benefiting from them? Are they meant to benefit some Councillors or relatives of some high-placed people? It is high time that an investigation is launched to determine where the idea of REDs originated and their purpose.Quite frankly, it is not necessary to have two middlemen between NamPower and the consumer.Who pays both middlemen and to whose benefit? In Windhoek, the City of Windhoek denies that there will be extra cost to the consumer when CentralRed is introduced.Watch out and see.This is a long-term strategy to make money for certain individuals.REDs are probably required for far-out places that do not fall under any municipality.Very soon, someone will come up with yet another ‘brilliant idea’ of introducing the Regional Water Distributors (REWADs) (or something similar to the REDs).Then again, we will have two middlemen between NamWater and the Consumer.Well! How are we delivering services to the poor if these schemes are created to rob the very same poor they pretend to be serving, of their hard-earned cash? Are we really geared towards Vision 2030 with the current state of affairs? This is utter corruption.I think we must kiss Vision 2030 goodbye NOW while there is time, to avoid disappointment when we have to look back at our achievements.Such cases present the first test for the Anti Corruption Commission.What needs competition are economic SOEs such as Telecom, MTC etc., and not service-oriented SOEs.Let’s define our priorities and let ‘the looting’ be stopped immediately.Need For Change Via e-mail Note: Name and address provided – Ed