Totemeyer takes aim at corruption

GOVERNMENT has expressed concern about the extent of corruption in Namibia’s regional and local authorities, which it says represents “a serious departure from administrative ethical norms”.

Speaking at the induction workshop for newly appointed regional officers, Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing Gerhard Totemeyer said yesterday that recent months had thrown up ample evidence of corruption by officials not adhering to moral standards. “We have noticed that the lust for money is the root of many evils. To some Local Authority councillors, money comes first and then possibly service to the people,” he said.Corruption alienated society from the State even as it contributed to a lack of trust in Government institutions, the Minister cautioned.Totemeyer said Namibians were concerned about self-enrichment which contributed to the widening gap between rich and poor.He quoted a 1998 survey by the Namibia Democratic Institute for International Affairs which found that 40 per cent of respondents felt corruption was common in Namibia, while 45 per cent said it was very common.Altogether 45 per cent claimed corruption occurred at national and executive levels but to a much lesser extent at regional and local levels while almost 50 per cent of respondents indicated that economic growth was the single issue most tainted by corruption in Namibia.Totemeyer said the Ministry would push for more responsibility among administrators and produce a set of ethical values and norms to which they should adhere.”A code of conduct is already in place but it will be strengthened by a code of ethics that is transparent, relevant, realistic, mandatory, monitored and enforceable,” he said.Totemeyer argued that a code of ethics for public administrators and political office-bearers in regional and local government was a necessity and must reflect public expectations and commitments.”We have noticed that the lust for money is the root of many evils. To some Local Authority councillors, money comes first and then possibly service to the people,” he said. Corruption alienated society from the State even as it contributed to a lack of trust in Government institutions, the Minister cautioned. Totemeyer said Namibians were concerned about self-enrichment which contributed to the widening gap between rich and poor. He quoted a 1998 survey by the Namibia Democratic Institute for International Affairs which found that 40 per cent of respondents felt corruption was common in Namibia, while 45 per cent said it was very common. Altogether 45 per cent claimed corruption occurred at national and executive levels but to a much lesser extent at regional and local levels while almost 50 per cent of respondents indicated that economic growth was the single issue most tainted by corruption in Namibia. Totemeyer said the Ministry would push for more responsibility among administrators and produce a set of ethical values and norms to which they should adhere. “A code of conduct is already in place but it will be strengthened by a code of ethics that is transparent, relevant, realistic, mandatory, monitored and enforceable,” he said. Totemeyer argued that a code of ethics for public administrators and political office-bearers in regional and local government was a necessity and must reflect public expectations and commitments.