May 27 2008 NSHR joins the general public and certain sections of the local media in registering its utter disgust at the corrupt conduct and scandalous failure by several top politicians and lawmakers to discharge their duties. In accordance with the Namibian Constitution and law, high-ranking politicians and public officials are required to act reasonably and fairly and comply with the requirements imposed upon them by common law and relevant legislation. Ministers and lawmakers are not above the law and neither are they more equal than the rest of the country’s population. Last Thursday the English weekly Informanté newspaper exposed how, among others, Swapo Party (SP) Vice President and Trade Minister Dr. Hage Geingob; SP Deputy Secretary-General and Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba; Deputy Trade Minister Bernhard Esau; Deputy Information Minister Raphael Dinyando; and Deputy Finance Minister Tjekero Tweya as well as National Assembly Speaker Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab have, for a long time, neglected to pay their water and electricity bills as well as taxes to the City of Windhoek. According to Informanté, Dr. Geingob alone owes N$371 897 in unpaid revenue over a period of five years, while Dr. Gurirab, Esau, Mbumba, Dinyando and Tweya owe N$37 366, N$32 865, N$24 531, N$16 760 and N$9 445, respectively. In terms of Article 45 of the Constitution, lawmakers “shall be representative of all the people and shall in the performance of their duties, be guided by the objectives of this Constitution, by the public interest and by their conscience”, while Article 42 of the Constitution bars Ministers not to “engage in activities inconsistent with their positions […] or expose themselves to any situation which carries with it the risk of a conflict developing between their interests as Ministers and their private interests”. In terms of Article 61 lawmakers “shall regard themselves as servants of the people of Namibia and desist from any conduct by which they seek improperly to enrich themselves or alienate themselves from the public”. Furthermore, as consecrated in the preamble and in Article 1(1) of the Constitution, the primary objectives and the reason for being for the Republic of Namibia are that the country becomes and remains a sovereign and democratic State, founded upon the principles of democracy and, the rule of law and justice for all. The latest media revelations that highly paid top politicians have neglected to pay their dues is yet another testimony about the fact that, in the performance of their duties, Namibia’s ruling elite is driven, not by the public interest as required by the Constitution, but by a culture of entitlement, egocentrism, conflict of interest, lack of accountability and transparency, political corruption and even impunity. This state of affairs also explains why 18 years after independence, Namibia hasone of the lowest human development index (HDI) rankings. The country is ranked number 125 among the close to 190 UN member States. It is also not surprising that Namibia has one of the world’s worst and reactionary records of income distribution among its relatively small population of close to 2 million people. Despite its quite high GNP per capita income of US$7 586,the country hasmore than 70 percent of its population suffering under poverty. “This alleged irresponsible conduct by Dr. Geingob and other ‘big men’ appears to be entirely consistent with previous Cabinet decisions, such as acquiring luxurious jet aircraft amid a severe drought and build a new State House at a stunning cost of close to N$1 billion and to spend over N$80 million in public funds on a propaganda film in the honor of former Namibian President Sam Nujoma while numerous socio-economic hardships threaten this country’s human security”, said NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh. The media revelations also bring into question the leadership qualities of those involved in this improper and disgraceful conduct. In a different context concerned citizen, Sakaria Nikodemus, has been teaching us since March 2 2007through his weekly columns in New Era and interviews on NBC Radio about the need for true leadership. ‘We do not need leaders who walk around with titles hoping to be served by others. On the contrary, we need leaders who […] truly understand and are able to respond to the responsibility and accountability resting upon their shoulders to serve others. True leaders are motivated by a strong desire to serve, and not to be served. Perhaps the shortest distance to true leadership is service”, writes Nikodemus. Moreover, NSHR has it on good authority that a senior Minister who recently passed away and who had been declared a hero received one of the most expensive funerals at the State expense, while his own parents are living in abject poverty. A hero should not only be one who is brave. Necessarily, a hero is also someone who has the qualities of responsibility, wisdom, selflessness and caring for others while a true leader should lead by example. Furthermore, the media revelations that Ministers receive financial subsidies for municipal services came at the time when the impoverished general public is bearing the brunt of the rising prices of food and fuel. Prime Minister Nahas Angula reportedly inferred that payment of water and electricity was “a condition of service linked to salary”. This state of affairs also testifies to the fact that corruption has become systemic in the public governance in Namibia. It is contrary for the City of Windhoek to claim that it is struggling to raise at least N$800 000 to provide water and electricity for 10 000 households while the City has more than N$500 000 of uncollected revenue owed by top politicians and other highly remunerated public officials. “Ironically, SP Vice President Dr. Geingob, who majored in democracy and good governance, reportedly argues that the State should foot the bill for his municipal services and basic rates even after his term of office as Prime Minister has lapsed and apparently even long after he had worked for the Washington-based Global Coalition for Africa between 2003 and 2005. Geingob was also recently reported as blaming the country’s tiny white population, the legacy of apartheid and colonialism as well as the economic practices of Western rich nations for the life threatening socio-economic situation in this country. Failure to pay for their dues would reflect badly on the personal characters of these national leaders”, said a member of the general public on condition of anonymity. Therefore, NSHR welcomes media reports that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is “taking a very keen interest” in allegations of corrupt conduct between Dr. Geingob, SP Deputy Secretary General Mbumba and eight other top SP officials and top officials at the City of Windhoek. Section 43 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2003 (Act 8 of 2003) criminalizes gratification and stipulates that the ACC has the mandate to investigate if a public official corruptly uses his or her position to receive or give gratification. NSHR credits President Lucas Hifikepunye Pohamba for creating an atmosphere where civil servants have now more than even before the courage to expose the corrupt conduct of even high-ranking politicians. In case of additional comment, please call Dorkas Phillemon at Tel: 061 236 183 or 061 253 447 (office hours) or E-mail: nshr@nshr.org.na or visit: www.nshr.org.na | | |
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