Martin Endjala
The Whistleblower Protection Act, passed in 2017, urgently needs to go into effect, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM).
Graham Hopwood, the executive director of IPPR, made the call on African Anti-Corruption Day, observed annually on July 11.
This year’s theme is “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption”.“
“In view of this, the IPPR, through its Integrity Namibia project, calls on the government to urgently operationalise the Whistleblower Protection Act, which was passed in 2017. Seven years later, this crucial law remains unimplemented, demonstrating a lack of political will to fight corruption,” he said.
Hopwood said that the recently released Afrobarometer survey findings on corruption in Namibia found that since 2017, more than six in 10 Namibians consistently report that ordinary people risk retaliation or other negative consequences if they report corruption.
He said this demonstrates the urgent need to set up the Whistleblower Protection Office as soon as possible with data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.
McHenry Venaani, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) President, emphasised the urgent need for concrete action in combating corruption in Namibia.
“Since the passing of the Whistleblower Protection Act in 2017, the PDM has consistently urged the government to promulgate this crucial piece of legislation,’
The operationalisation of the two acts for the 2023–2024 financial year received an allocation of N$50 million.
Venaani said it is disheartening to note that despite the budgetary allocation, the Whistleblower Protection Office remains non-operational.
He said this inaction severely undermines efforts to promote a culture of accountability and transparency in the nation.
“It is imperative that the government prioritise the operationalisation of the Whistleblower Protection Act as a pivotal step towards fostering a culture of integrity and accountability within our democratic institutions. Stringent anti-corruption laws not only deter corrupt practices but also instil confidence among potential investors,” he stated.
He added that the protection of whistleblowers is not merely a procedural matter but a fundamental safeguard against corruption.
He is also calling on the government to demonstrate its commitment to combating corruption authentically, beyond mere symbolic gestures.
Venaani committed himself to advocating for robust anti-corruption measures that safeguard the interests of all Namibians.
According to the Afrobarometer survey released this month, two-thirds of Namibians say corruption in the country is getting worse.
“A large majority believe that at least “some” representatives and officials in government, civil society, and business are involved in corruption. Most citizens say the government is doing a poor job of fighting graft and that ordinary people risk retaliation if they speak out,” said the survey.
About three-quarters (76%) of citizens say the government is doing a bad job of fighting corruption in government, the highest level of disapproval recorded in two decades of Afrobarometer surveys.
The survey further shows that Namibians overwhelmingly think that at least some members and representatives of central, regional, and local government, as well as state offices and civil society, are involved in corruption.
It further claims that about two-thirds (65%) of Namibians say corruption in the country increased “somewhat” or “a lot” during the year preceding the survey, a 13-percentage-point drop since 2017.
According to the report, perceptions of increasing corruption rise dramatically with citizens’ experiences of lived poverty, ranging from 56% among respondents experiencing no or low-lived poverty to 72%–73% among those experiencing moderate or high-lived poverty.
When asked about the Act’s operationalisation, Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab said she would need to discuss the answer with the executive director and the acting director of witness protection.
“At this stage, I am not able to provide an answer,” she said.
Afrobarometer is a Pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable answers. Questions sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa proved futile at the time of publication.
