Niël Terblanché
The Erongo Region will continue to take a strong stand against corruption, as demonstrated during the second annual Erongo Regional Forum held in Swakopmund on Tuesday.
The event, organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Office of the Erongo Governor, brought together key stakeholders to discuss progress and reinforce commitments to the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan (NACSAP).
Advocate Erna van der Merwe, the Deputy Director-General of the ACC, addressed the forum and reiterated the significance of the NACSAP, approved by the Cabinet in December 2021 and launched in March 2022.
“The Regional Forum is part of the governance structures and monitoring bodies ensuring the effective implementation of the strategy,” she said.
Van der Merwe emphasised the mission of NACSAP to promote integrity, accountability, and transparency through its eight strategic objectives.
She stressed the importance of collective efforts in combating corruption, noting that the implementation of 87 out of 95 actions by 44 lead institutions during the 2022/2023 financial year marked significant progress.
“Corruption drains resources from much-needed investments in health, education, infrastructure, and other basic services. We should all play our part to prevent it from taking root in our society,” she said.
In his address, the Governor of the Erongo Region, Neville Andre, commended the collaborative spirit evident in the large turnout at the forum.
He spoke about the pervasive nature of corruption and its detrimental impact on development, democracy, and economic growth.
“Corruption is a global evil found in all countries, big and small, rich and poor, and Namibia is no exception. We need to use preventative measures and maximise our efforts to implement the national Anti-corruption Strategy and Action Plan,” he said.
Andre praised the ACC’s training efforts, which saw hundreds of local authority staff from various towns in the Erongo Region trained on ethics and integrity.
He called for continued partnership and the establishment of integrity committees to sustain the fight against corruption.
“Fighting corruption is not only the responsibility of the ACC but of all of us. We need public and private institutions and the public at large to become our partners and ambassadors in fighting corruption,” he urged.
Swakopmund’s mayor, Dina Namubes, expressed pride in hosting the forum and emphasised the critical role of addressing corruption in fostering economic growth.
“Corruption undermines the foundation of trust and fairness essential for a thriving economy. It deters investment, suppresses innovation, and diverts resources away from critical public services and infrastructure,” she explained.
Namubes reiterated the importance of transparency and continuous engagement in promoting Swakopmund as an investment and tourism hub.
“When citizens trust that their leaders are acting in their best interests, they are more likely to engage in economic activities, pay taxes, and contribute to community development initiatives,” she said.
Namubes said it should be the collective resolve of the Erongo Region’s leadership to create a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free environment conducive to sustainable development.
Stakeholders at the meeting were urged to renew their commitment to combating corruption and ensuring the effective implementation of NACSAP.
