Geingob in denial of corruption – PDM
The official opposition disagrees with the head of state’s umpteenth assertion that corruption is not systemic in Namibia.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Corruption in Namibia has long exceeded systemic levels and is now pandemic.
This according to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) treasurer Nico Smit, who was responding to President Hage Geingob’s umpteenth denial that the increasing levels of corruption have become systemic.
“I have stated on several occasions that I believe that corruption is not systemic in Namibia, but perceptions have been created that Namibia is a corrupt society,” Geingob said.
Can of worms
Smit yesterday said Geingob lives in denial and is completely out of touch with the realities in the country.
According to the PDM treasurer, Geingob’s government is dragging its feet with the implementation of the Whistle-blowers’ Act because of the levels of corruption.
“They know that it will open a can of worms, that is why it is not yet in operation. There is basically not a single ministry or government entity where corruption has not been reported. Look at the education ministry and the number of ghost teachers they are paying salaries. That is just one example,” Smit said.
In denial
Political analyst Graham Hopwood yesterday said systemic corruption is on the rise in Namibia and must be recognised for what it is.
According to him, Fishrot is an example of systemic corruption because of how the non-transparent and non-accountable system of allocating rights and quotas enabled the scandal to take place.
“Similarly, the systematic governance failures at the SME Bank allowed hundreds of millions of dollars to be siphoned into private pockets. This happened because the SME Bank board were either complicit or irresponsible in the way they ran the bank. So, while corruption might not be endemic - present throughout society from top to bottom - in Namibia, it is systemic in that the way the government operates at the top level has allowed corruption to take place,” Hopwood said.
Broken record
Meanwhile, activist lawyer Eben de Klerk responded that Namibians have in recent years witnessed widespread corruption which has now escalated to State Capture.
“To the point where laws are amended to enable grand corruption, committed on a massive scale, and all indications are that those right at the top are complicit in this grand corruption,” he said.
According to De Klerk, the fact that Geingob insists that corruption is a perception proves that there is no inclination to effectively deal with the dilemma.
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WINDHOEK
Corruption in Namibia has long exceeded systemic levels and is now pandemic.
This according to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) treasurer Nico Smit, who was responding to President Hage Geingob’s umpteenth denial that the increasing levels of corruption have become systemic.
“I have stated on several occasions that I believe that corruption is not systemic in Namibia, but perceptions have been created that Namibia is a corrupt society,” Geingob said.
Can of worms
Smit yesterday said Geingob lives in denial and is completely out of touch with the realities in the country.
According to the PDM treasurer, Geingob’s government is dragging its feet with the implementation of the Whistle-blowers’ Act because of the levels of corruption.
“They know that it will open a can of worms, that is why it is not yet in operation. There is basically not a single ministry or government entity where corruption has not been reported. Look at the education ministry and the number of ghost teachers they are paying salaries. That is just one example,” Smit said.
In denial
Political analyst Graham Hopwood yesterday said systemic corruption is on the rise in Namibia and must be recognised for what it is.
According to him, Fishrot is an example of systemic corruption because of how the non-transparent and non-accountable system of allocating rights and quotas enabled the scandal to take place.
“Similarly, the systematic governance failures at the SME Bank allowed hundreds of millions of dollars to be siphoned into private pockets. This happened because the SME Bank board were either complicit or irresponsible in the way they ran the bank. So, while corruption might not be endemic - present throughout society from top to bottom - in Namibia, it is systemic in that the way the government operates at the top level has allowed corruption to take place,” Hopwood said.
Broken record
Meanwhile, activist lawyer Eben de Klerk responded that Namibians have in recent years witnessed widespread corruption which has now escalated to State Capture.
“To the point where laws are amended to enable grand corruption, committed on a massive scale, and all indications are that those right at the top are complicit in this grand corruption,” he said.
According to De Klerk, the fact that Geingob insists that corruption is a perception proves that there is no inclination to effectively deal with the dilemma.
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