N$75 000 fine or jail time for retaliation against whistleblowers
Individuals who retaliate against whistleblowers for exposing corruption or misconduct could soon face fines of up to N$75 000 or a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The criminalisation of reprisals against whistleblowers is set to become a reality once the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 is fully implemented and operationalised – a key focus at the TAIEX Workshop on Advancing Whistleblower Protection in Namibia, held in Windhoek yesterday.
The event, organised by the European Union (EU) in collaboration with the justice ministry, brought together legal experts, policymakers and civil society representatives to discuss ways to strengthen whistleblower protections.
EU ambassador to Namibia Beatriz Martins stressed the importance of implementing strong laws to encourage individuals to report wrongdoing without fear of retribution or victimisation.
"For people to come forward, they must be assured of protection from retaliation. This workshop allows us to explore best practices and digital tools to safeguard whistleblower anonymity," she said.
Big and small
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to fighting corruption at all levels, including strengthening the mandate of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
"Often, we focus on large-scale corruption, forgetting how small-scale theft within public service contributes to a culture of misconduct," she said yesterday.
"Former president Hage Geingob's anti-corruption efforts laid the foundation for our legal framework, and today, we continue to take steps – big and small – to tackle corruption," Dausab added.
The minister also called on professionals to uphold integrity before expecting it from the public, citing examples of corruption at grassroots levels – such as hospital staff stealing food meant for patients, for example – that erodes public trust in government institutions.
Building a culture of integrity
Dausab acknowledged that many individuals hesitate to report corruption due to fear of social stigma or other potential repercussions.
"Some avoid speaking out because they fear being labelled or isolated. The very term 'whistleblower' often carries a negative connotation. As a government, we must address this challenge," she said.
She revealed that plans are underway to establish a witness protection unit, although its full implementation will take time.
"Whistleblowers should not have to change their lives because they did the right thing. We must focus on fostering a culture of integrity," she stressed.
Link to Access to Information Act
The workshop also underscored the link between whistleblower protection and Namibia’s Access to Information Act, which guarantees the public's right to request information from government institutions.
Experts highlighted that these two legal frameworks complement each other in promoting transparency and accountability.
"While they serve different purposes, both whistleblower protection and access to information laws work together to ensure misconduct is reported and that the public has access to crucial information," Martins explained.
Namibia’s Access to Information Act, passed in 2012, is overseen by an independent information commissioner, responsible for ensuring compliance by public institutions.
The criminalisation of reprisals against whistleblowers is set to become a reality once the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 is fully implemented and operationalised – a key focus at the TAIEX Workshop on Advancing Whistleblower Protection in Namibia, held in Windhoek yesterday.
The event, organised by the European Union (EU) in collaboration with the justice ministry, brought together legal experts, policymakers and civil society representatives to discuss ways to strengthen whistleblower protections.
EU ambassador to Namibia Beatriz Martins stressed the importance of implementing strong laws to encourage individuals to report wrongdoing without fear of retribution or victimisation.
"For people to come forward, they must be assured of protection from retaliation. This workshop allows us to explore best practices and digital tools to safeguard whistleblower anonymity," she said.
Big and small
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to fighting corruption at all levels, including strengthening the mandate of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
"Often, we focus on large-scale corruption, forgetting how small-scale theft within public service contributes to a culture of misconduct," she said yesterday.
"Former president Hage Geingob's anti-corruption efforts laid the foundation for our legal framework, and today, we continue to take steps – big and small – to tackle corruption," Dausab added.
The minister also called on professionals to uphold integrity before expecting it from the public, citing examples of corruption at grassroots levels – such as hospital staff stealing food meant for patients, for example – that erodes public trust in government institutions.
Building a culture of integrity
Dausab acknowledged that many individuals hesitate to report corruption due to fear of social stigma or other potential repercussions.
"Some avoid speaking out because they fear being labelled or isolated. The very term 'whistleblower' often carries a negative connotation. As a government, we must address this challenge," she said.
She revealed that plans are underway to establish a witness protection unit, although its full implementation will take time.
"Whistleblowers should not have to change their lives because they did the right thing. We must focus on fostering a culture of integrity," she stressed.
Link to Access to Information Act
The workshop also underscored the link between whistleblower protection and Namibia’s Access to Information Act, which guarantees the public's right to request information from government institutions.
Experts highlighted that these two legal frameworks complement each other in promoting transparency and accountability.
"While they serve different purposes, both whistleblower protection and access to information laws work together to ensure misconduct is reported and that the public has access to crucial information," Martins explained.
Namibia’s Access to Information Act, passed in 2012, is overseen by an independent information commissioner, responsible for ensuring compliance by public institutions.
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