Hertta-Maria Amutenja
A political analyst has expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in combating corruption.
Ndumba Kamwanyah made these remarks following the arrest of six public officials, including three senior police officers, a school administrator, a former school principal, and a government handyman, over the past two months in connection with corruption charges.
Kamwanyah believes these arrests highlight the persistent problem of corruption in the public sector.
“While it’s good to see action being taken, the real question is whether these arrests will lead to convictions and real consequences, or if they will just be for show,” Kamwanyah said.
Three police officers, who already appeared before court on corruption charges, are Deputy Commissioner Rector Sandema, senior detective Inspector Martin Basson, and Warrant Officer Willem Uirab.
The arrest on allegations of soliciting bribes totalling N$25 000 from a businesswoman between May and July 2024.
In exchange for the bribe, the trio allegedly promised to help recover a stolen vehicle.
The three are each facing two counts under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Sandema was at one point the head of the Namibian Police’s anti-money-laundering unit, which investigated the SME Bank for alleged money laundering.
They appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on 28 February, where they were denied bail due to concerns over interference with the investigation.
Their case is set for bail consideration on 7 March.
Kamwanyah attributes the ongoing prevalence of corruption to weak enforcement, political interference, and a lack of accountability mechanisms.
“The ACC doesn’t always have the power or independence to go after high-profile figures. We need an independent anti-corruption body, stronger whistleblower protection, and better oversight mechanisms,” he said.
Despite the country’s robust anti-corruption laws, Kamwanyah warned that delays in prosecution and the slow pace of trials encourage a culture of impunity among public officials.
“Officials believe they can engage in corruption without facing consequences because of the long delays in prosecutions and weak oversight,” he added.
According to Kamwanyah, a more transparent public service is essential for tackling corruption.
“Public officials should be forced to declare their assets, and the public needs to be able to track government spending,” he said. “Without these safeguards in place, corruption will continue to thrive.”
The arrests are part of an ongoing effort by the ACC to tackle corruption within the public sector.
According to the ACC director general, Paulus Noa, every department has dirty individuals who attempt to corrupt the government’s governance system.
“They will not get away with it. ACC, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and the public, shall flush them out,” said Noa.
Noa insists that these arrests do not signify an overall rise in corruption.
“There are still a few individuals in public service who want to continue corruption, but they have nowhere to hide. As long as the public reports corrupt officials, we will act, regardless of their title or status,” he explained.CC.
While Noa acknowledged the delays in prosecuting suspects, he clarified that the ACC’s role is to gather evidence, not prosecute cases.
Prosecution is handled by the Prosecutor-General’s office.
Another case involves Richard Geiseb, a former principal at Kolin Foundation Secondary School in Arandis.
Geiseb was arrested on 17 February.
He faces charges related to the misappropriation of public funds, fraud, theft, and money laundering, with the total amount involved in the case reaching N$320 010.54.
Geiseb’s case has been postponed to 7 March.
On January 21, a sting operation resulted in the arrest of Kefas Amutenya, a handyman in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform.
Amutenya, who had previously been arrested for bribery in April 2024, allegedly solicited a bribe of N$300 from a community member at Etuli Village in the Oshikoto Region for a job he was officially assigned to perform.
Despite being out on bail at the time, Amutenya was arrested again and his case was postponed until 16 July.
Anna Nuwuseb, an administrative officer at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School, was arrested on 6 February.
She is accused of soliciting bribes ranging from N$400 to N$1 000 from parents in exchange for facilitating the admission of children into the school.
The total amount received by Nuwuseb is estimated at N$8 280.
Her case is set to resume on 17 March.
