ACC comes out swinging against LMP ‘insults’

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director-general Paulus Noa has hit back at the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), which called the agency a ‘Swapo lapdog’ following the arrest of the opposition party’s two councillors and an official at Karasburg this week.

Karasburg mayor Maria Veldskoen, acting CEO of the town council Hansina Isaaks and chairperson of the management committee Franciskus Skeyer were charged for alleged illegal appointments and irregularly changing signatories of the council's bank accounts.

The trio appeared in court on Tuesday before Magistrate Samingo Kasaone and were denied bail.

In a scathing statement on Monday, LPM accused ACC of being a toothless lapdog of Swapo and of being used by urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni to fight political battles.

“When there are clear corrupt ongoing activities done by members of Swapo who are councillors, there is not even a written warning assigned to them. However, when there is an administrative issue in Karasburg, Uutoni does not attempt to hide his bias and discriminatory mind-set and throws everything but the kitchen sink at the LPM-led council,” spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa said.

Yesterday, Noa said he and his team will not be deterred in pursuing those involved in corrupt activities across the country.

“Secondly, ACC is not a lapdog to any person. That is an insult to the integrity of ACC. ACC is a body that carries out its mandate in accordance with the law without influence from any person,” he said.

“The arrested councillors have contravened the anti-corruption law and that is the reason they were arrested. It seems some councillors think they are a law unto themselves and can take whatever decision they please, irrespective whether such decision is against the local authorities law or not.”

‘Banana republic’

ACC said it would not allow Namibia to degenerate into a ‘banana republic’ due to corrupt officials.

“Namibia is a democratic state founded on the principle of rule of law. Laws, processes and procedures must be adhered to. You do not become a councillor and the next thing you fire those you do not agree with, hire those in your favour, replace those with signatory powers to the bank account of the local authority with your own signatory, contrary to the law,” Noa said.

He added: “With regards to unlawful conduct by councillors, the minister [Uutoni] must rein [them] in, even if it means suspending the entire council. The unlawful conduct by some councillors is unacceptable”.

“ACC shall not be moved by name-calling. Criminal wrongdoers shall always be investigated and if evidence proving wrongdoing is found, they are brought before court to face the full wrath of the law - as happened to the suspected councillors.

"LPM’s insults do not move the ACC an inch.”