Africa-Press – Namibia. THE efficiency of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is once again in the spotlight, with political analysts saying the capabilities of the anti-graft watchdog’s director general, Paulus Noa, is being questioned by the public.
This comes after Noa on Friday told Desert Radio 95.3 FM that corruption in Namibia is not endemic, adding he has done his best to deliver on his mandate.
Graham Hopwood, the director of the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), is questioning the selection criteria for both the ACC director general and his deputy.
He calls for an independent selection panel to consider candidates’ merit and moral standing in future.
“We would prefer a more independent process for appointing the director general and the deputy director general that removes the possibility of political influence,” he says.
The Fishrot corruption case will be a litmus test for the agency, Hopwood says.
“If it falls apart then I think the public faith in the ACC will be dealt a death blow,” he says.
Hopwood says the ACC also needs to investigate Fishrot suspects who have not been arrested yet, and other high-profile cases in which there appears to be impunity currently.
He says the ACC shouldn’t be begging for resources to undertake investigations.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says Noa’s statements are contrary to public perception.
He says Noa should have provided concrete examples of the ACC’s achievements since its inception.
The ACC lacks awareness and visibility in the community, he says.
“Even if it is achieving its mandate, more could be done … The public expectations are huge, so it must set its goals and standards high beyond public expectation,” Kamwanyah says.
Meanwhile, Noa says his agency is overwhelmed by cases unrelated to corruption.
According to Noa, the ACC has referred 730 cases to the prosecutor general since its inception, and out of them, 184 convictions have been made, with 242 cases still pending in criminal courts.
Noa told Desert Radio he was doing quite well in the fight against corruption, but acknowledged that the Fishrot corruption scandal dented the country’s image.
He said Namibia does not have many cases involving politically exposed people.
“There are no kleptocratic cases of corruption where you find political principals, captains of industry and heads of institutions entangled in corruption. We don’t have that type of system,” Noa said.
According to the latest Transparency International Corruption Perception Index released in January this year, Namibia dropped from 51st place out of 100 in 2020 to 49th place in 2021.
The highest ranking Namibia earned on the index was 53rd in 2018.
Noa also poured cold water on critics who believe he is inefficient, saying they are free to lodge formal complaints to get him to leave his job.
He said he would carry out his duties until his appointing authority says it is time for him to step down.
“You’ll never hear me fighting to be in this position,” he said.
Noa has been the head of the agency since its inception in 2006 and was reappointed for another five years by president Hage Geingob last year.
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