‘We will defeat the enemy’

CORRUPTION is the enemy of the poor, the sick and the unemployed. And it will be rooted out. In his address to the nation on the 16th anniversary of Independence, President Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday promised the Namibian people that he would not relent in his drive to root out corruption in all sectors of society.

Speaking at celebrations in Windhoek, President Pohamba underlined that corruption undermined development and threatened democracy. “Corruption is an enemy of the Namibian people, it is an enemy of the poor, it is an enemy of the sick, it is an enemy of the unemployed, it is an enemy of those who seek better education, above all it is a threat to our democracy, peace, security and stability,” the President said.The President, who took over from Sam Nujoma a year ago, said he was confident that Namibia was poised to face and overcome the challenges of HIV-AIDS, public service delivery, corruption and unemployment.”The Government is planning to create special economic development zones across our rural areas, with a view to promoting and sustaining economic activities,” he said.Pohamba revealed plans to build feeder roads and other infrastructure to serve as a basis for sustainable economic growth.He said Government was concerned about the economic empowerment of women.”Yes, it is true that we introduced and enacted laws to address discrimination that our women suffered in the colonial past.However, I believe that we need to take more practical steps to empower our women within the existing programmes such as land reform, support for small and medium enterprises, as well as through training and skills-development initiatives,” he said.Pohamba also devoted time to talking about the importance of unity and collective leadership.He said the lessons of the past 15 years would stand the country in good stead as it marched in unity towards the future.”A strong foundation has been laid, we must now continue to build on successes that we have achieved.We need peace, security and stability,” he said, adding that there was also a need for “unity and inclusiveness”.”I am fully aware that there are many challenges that we face, in the process of nation-building.However, I am equally confident that we are walking in the right path.A path that can take our country towards a brighter future,” he said.The celebrations were relatively low-key compared to last year when Pohamba was sworn in as President.Members of his Cabinet were all sent into the regions to attend celebrations.Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council Margreth Mensah-Williams and the Director General of the National Planning Commission, Helmut Angula, were the only high-profile Government leaders present in Windhoek.The rest of the VIP stand at the Independence Stadium was filled with diplomats and chiefs of the national services.Former president Nujoma was not at the Windhoek celebrations.Yesterday’s programme was short and to the point and Pohamba’s speech was delivered 30 minutes earlier than the programme provided to the media earlier.No Freedom Medal was bestowed either, as has become a custom in the past 15 years.”Corruption is an enemy of the Namibian people, it is an enemy of the poor, it is an enemy of the sick, it is an enemy of the unemployed, it is an enemy of those who seek better education, above all it is a threat to our democracy, peace, security and stability,” the President said. The President, who took over from Sam Nujoma a year ago, said he was confident that Namibia was poised to face and overcome the challenges of HIV-AIDS, public service delivery, corruption and unemployment.”The Government is planning to create special economic development zones across our rural areas, with a view to promoting and sustaining economic activities,” he said.Pohamba revealed plans to build feeder roads and other infrastructure to serve as a basis for sustainable economic growth.He said Government was concerned about the economic empowerment of women.”Yes, it is true that we introduced and enacted laws to address discrimination that our women suffered in the colonial past.However, I believe that we need to take more practical steps to empower our women within the existing programmes such as land reform, support for small and medium enterprises, as well as through training and skills-development initiatives,” he said.Pohamba also devoted time to talking about the importance of unity and collective leadership.He said the lessons of the past 15 years would stand the country in good stead as it marched in unity towards the future.”A strong foundation has been laid, we must now continue to build on successes that we have achieved.We need peace, security and stability,” he said, adding that there was also a need for “unity and inclusiveness”.”I am fully aware that there are many challenges that we face, in the process of nation-building.However, I am equally confident that we are walking in the right path.A path that can take our country towards a brighter future,” he said.The celebrations were relatively low-key compared to last year when Pohamba was sworn in as President.Members of his Cabinet were all sent into the regions to attend celebrations.Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council Margreth Mensah-Williams and the Director General of the National Planning Commission, Helmut Angula, were the only high-profile Government leaders present in Windhoek.The rest of the VIP stand at the Independence Stadium was filled with diplomats and chiefs of the national services.Former president Nujoma was not at the Windhoek celebrations.Yesterday’s programme was short and to the point and Pohamba’s speech was delivered 30 minutes earlier than the programme provided to the media earlier.No Freedom Medal was bestowed either, as has become a custom in the past 15 years.