Martin Endjala
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, says new evolving technology is proving to be a challenge in combatting corruption, hence her advocacy on enhanced monitoring mechanisms.
“One of the most pressing challenges we face is the increasing use of technology in corruption schemes, cybercrime, and other digital threats that are becoming more sophisticated and complex to detect.
Enhanced monitoring mechanisms are crucial to prevent and detect illicit financial activities through which large amounts of resources are siphoned out of mainly natural resources endowed countries,” said stressed.
The premier made these remarks during a two-day Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum currently underway in Paris, France.
She called on countries to remain vigilant and work together to harmonise their laws, share information, and coordinate enforcement efforts and increase transparency, robust regulatory frameworks.
Noting that many of these countries, are developing countries, and a large part of whose populations are poor, are forced as a result of this into high and unsustainable debt.
Emphasising that sharing capacity for strengthening anti-corruption measures, including the area of strengthening the governance framework, enhancing financial intelligence capabilities, promoting information sharing and holding perpetrators accountable are vital steps in curbing illicit financial flows.
Additionally, she believes that through collaboration with various partners, they can create a more just and equitable world.
Stating that Namibia remains steadfast in its commitment to combating corruption and promoting integrity in all spheres of its society.
Since its independence in 1990, the PM indicated that Namibia has made significant progress in strengthening measures to combat corruption and promote effective governance.
Explaining that this progress has been achieved through the enhancement of processes, systems, and institutions within the public sector.
In terms of Namibia’s Anti-Corruption milestones, in 2003, the Anti-Corruption Act No. 8 of 2003 was passed and came into effect in 2005.
Leading up to the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2006, with the mandate to investigate allegations of corrupt practices, educate the public on the dangers of corruption, and take corruption-preventative measures in both public and private sectors.
Since its inception, the ACC has submitted 768 dockets to the Prosecutor General’s Office, with 343 cases having been concluded in the Court by the Financial Year 2022/2023.
The country also enacted the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Acts and established an independent Financial Intelligence Centre.
Various initiatives have since been implemented to enhance the efficiency of judiciary management systems in the country and strengthen the integrity and transparency of the Judiciary.
For instance, court-connected mediation has been available in the High Court of Namibia since 2014. Such as Mediation, a form of alternative dispute resolution, aims to resolve matters quickly, cost-effectively, and efficiently.
Additionally, Superior Courts have practice directives in place to manage cases promptly once they are placed on the court rolls, and Judges oversee the management of cases and set timelines for their resolution from inception to finalisation.
