Africa-Press – Namibia. ANTI-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa says some local authorities are in a mess because of a lack of transparency and accountability.
Noa made these remarks during plenary discussions on the promotion of best anti-corruption practices within local authorities and regional councils, held at Swakopmund last week.
Noa said this led to poor service delivery and political squabbles among councillors.
“I am not trying to be brutal here, I am talking from the position of information. Being the head of the ACC, I know what is being reported to me,” he said.
He called on local authorities and regional councils to develop policies that expressly reject corruption and all forms of unethical conduct, and said the development of such policies are vital in driving an effective anti-corruption agenda.
“Because these governments are on the ground and when things on the ground are not going well, don’t expect any prosperity at any other levels. It is critical that there should be policies and programmes and all these programmes should speak to fighting corruption,” he added.
Noa further revealed that on a regular basis, his office receives reports of administrative irregularities, mismanagement, maladministration and corruption at local authorities and regional councils.
“We are killing this country when we are involved in these corrupt practices,” he said.
Walvis Bay, Grootfontein and Katima Mulilo local authorities are working on ridding themselves of allegations of corruption which stem from the allocation of land, tenders, as well as the sale of the government’s mass housing project properties.
Other local authorities such as Tsumeb, Otavi and Windhoek are without substantive CEOs as a result of squabbles among councillors.
The minister of urban and rural development, Erastus Uutoni, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Natalia /Goagoses, said the transgression of governance policies including abuse of power, tribalism, victimisation, and intimidation are taking place in regional and local authority councils.
“Some councils are not allocating land fairly and according to their allocation lists. Business people are bribing councillors and administrators. There is nepotism in the recruitment process, and the unfair demotion or suspension of employees, especially for management staff. Management are not implementing council resolutions.”
Uutoni added that the ministry’s strategic plan for 2017/18 to 2021/2022 is coming to an end and they will consider incorporating new anti-corruption strategies in their plans.
The ministry called on the ACC to provide ministry officials with some of the ACC’s objectives and strategies.
“Local and regional councils should actively promote awareness on preventing and tackling corruption in collaboration with the ACC’s public education programmes,” added Uutoni.
The minister also supported the call for adequate funding for the ACC to be able to educate the public on corruption, as well as investigate cases that involve corruption in local and regional councils.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
