Namibia 'captured'
The opposition movement believes that a commission of enquiry is need to investigate state capture in the country.
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) is convinced that government has been hijacked by close allies of President Hage Geingob, with his knowledge and support, and has called for a commission of inquiry into “state capture”.
The official opposition said this commission should be similar to South Africa's Zondo commission, which is holding public hearings into the alleged capture of the neighbouring state by the Gupta/Jacob Zuma looting machine.
PDM treasurer and parliamentarian Nico Smit said the Namibian government is “clearly rotten at its core” and challenged Geingob to sooth the nation's fears by appointing a state capture commission of inquiry.
South Africa's Zondo commission is a judicial body with the power to subpoena witnesses and those implicated in state capture in the neighbouring state. It is chaired by that country's Deputy Chief Justice Ray Zondo, who has already heard shocking evidence of how the Gupta/Zuma axis allegedly stole billions from state-owned enterprises, while running a shadow state, which usurped the ANC and government's power.
The Zondo commission's mandate is to inquire, investigate and make recommendations regarding any and all allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector. According to Smit, there is no point in asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) or Ombudsman John Walters to investigate Namibian state capture, because over the years it has become clear that both have neither the will nor the inclination or funds to pursue people in high places accused of ruining the country.
“The president has promised to eradicate corruption, but this is clearly a joke as these secret companies are obviously a breeding ground for this very corruption, which is why they are kept so secret. This is happening with the president's knowledge and obviously his support.”
Smit asserts it is impossible not to suspect that those in control of government, such as some ministers, might be part of the major theft of state assets, and this is reason why nothing is ever done to rein in the “blatant money-making schemes for which most state-owned-enterprises are being used”.
The PDM is particularly concerned about mines minister Tom Alweendo's admission recently that he did not know Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) was a government entity.
Namdia has hit the headlines repeatedly over hefty sitting fees being paid out to board members.
“How much more evidence do Namibians need that the company was started in great secrecy to hide its nefarious theft from taxpayers?” Smit asked.
According to him, a clear pattern seems to be emerging of government hijacking the private sector via these burgeoning companies that are started with taxpayers' money to compete with private sector businesses.
“It looks suspiciously as if the government is trying to deliberately collapse the economy in order to realise the pre-independence dream of creating a socialist state in Namibia. Perhaps this is why Swapo insists on keeping the old guard in government to support this plan.”
JEMIMA BEUKES
The official opposition said this commission should be similar to South Africa's Zondo commission, which is holding public hearings into the alleged capture of the neighbouring state by the Gupta/Jacob Zuma looting machine.
PDM treasurer and parliamentarian Nico Smit said the Namibian government is “clearly rotten at its core” and challenged Geingob to sooth the nation's fears by appointing a state capture commission of inquiry.
South Africa's Zondo commission is a judicial body with the power to subpoena witnesses and those implicated in state capture in the neighbouring state. It is chaired by that country's Deputy Chief Justice Ray Zondo, who has already heard shocking evidence of how the Gupta/Zuma axis allegedly stole billions from state-owned enterprises, while running a shadow state, which usurped the ANC and government's power.
The Zondo commission's mandate is to inquire, investigate and make recommendations regarding any and all allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector. According to Smit, there is no point in asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) or Ombudsman John Walters to investigate Namibian state capture, because over the years it has become clear that both have neither the will nor the inclination or funds to pursue people in high places accused of ruining the country.
“The president has promised to eradicate corruption, but this is clearly a joke as these secret companies are obviously a breeding ground for this very corruption, which is why they are kept so secret. This is happening with the president's knowledge and obviously his support.”
Smit asserts it is impossible not to suspect that those in control of government, such as some ministers, might be part of the major theft of state assets, and this is reason why nothing is ever done to rein in the “blatant money-making schemes for which most state-owned-enterprises are being used”.
The PDM is particularly concerned about mines minister Tom Alweendo's admission recently that he did not know Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) was a government entity.
Namdia has hit the headlines repeatedly over hefty sitting fees being paid out to board members.
“How much more evidence do Namibians need that the company was started in great secrecy to hide its nefarious theft from taxpayers?” Smit asked.
According to him, a clear pattern seems to be emerging of government hijacking the private sector via these burgeoning companies that are started with taxpayers' money to compete with private sector businesses.
“It looks suspiciously as if the government is trying to deliberately collapse the economy in order to realise the pre-independence dream of creating a socialist state in Namibia. Perhaps this is why Swapo insists on keeping the old guard in government to support this plan.”
JEMIMA BEUKES
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