ACC hits back at ‘liar, venomous’ Sankwasa
• Agency will not submit to ‘his wishful thinking’
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director-General Paulus Noa has dismissed urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa‘s allegations that the ‘dead’ organisation failed to act on various reported corruption cases as ‘blatant lies’.
Sankwasa claimed that the ACC failed to act on reports he submitted during his current tenure as minister and previously as deputy minister of works and transport, more than five years ago.
Among his revelations was that the Katima Mulilo Town Council allegedly exchanged land for vehicles, which he described as highly illegal.
Namibian Sun reported on Tuesday that Sankwasa, appointed minister in March, is being hailed as a hero in some quarters for his tough stance against alleged corruption in local authorities.
Poor understanding of ACC’s mandate
But a visibly irate Noa has firmly rejected these assertions, saying they reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the ACC’s legal mandate by the minister.
“Sankwasa’s venomous attack on the ACC, calling it a ‘dead body’, demonstrates his poor understanding of our mandate. He expects the ACC to commit to his wishful thinking, but our duty is not to impulsively act on allegations without first verifying the existence of corrupt practices,” Noa said.
He added that the ACC is committed to conducting thorough investigations, guided by the Anti-Corruption Act, and not motivated by public opinion or political pressure.
Noa also criticised Sankwasa’s anti-corruption campaign at local authorities, likening it to a “headless chicken approach” motivated more by a desire for public praise than substantive outcomes.
“We do not investigate in a headless-chicken style. Nor do we parade our investigations in public just to gain popularity or destroy the reputations of suspects. Reckless action can jeopardise well-intentioned investigations,” Noa warned.
Old cases resurface
Addressing Sankwasa’s claim that the ACC ignored his reports, Noa provided detailed accounts of investigations the commission undertook based on information Sankwasa submitted.
In one instance, Sankwasa - then deputy minister - reported in 2019 that the executive director had approved the demolition of the Okahandja Government Hotel, despite plans to lease it to the Malaysian government for conversion into an educational facility under Limkokwing University.
Noa confirmed that the ACC had investigated this case and submitted the docket to Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa on 13 July 2020.
On 21 December 2020, Imalwa declined to prosecute, citing insufficient evidence.
“Sankwasa was informed of the outcome. For him to now claim that the ACC did nothing is not only a blatant lie but an attempt to tarnish the image of the commission for reasons best known to himself,” Noa said.
Another case Sankwasa referred to - relating to financial irregularities in rehabilitating the Mpacha Airport runway - was reported by then transport minister John Mutorwa, not Sankwasa, Noa clarified.
“The ACC kept Mutorwa updated and explained that expert analysis was required to determine whether the cost escalation was justified. We requested treasury funding to appoint civil engineers, and the minister was fully informed,” Noa said.
New submissions are still under review
Regarding documents submitted by Sankwasa to the ACC on 23 April 2025, Noa explained that these are internal audit reports compiled by the Ministry of urban and rural development in 2022 and 2024.
“The ACC is currently reviewing these reports to determine whether they merit criminal investigation. If not, they will be returned to minister Sankwasa so he can exercise his administrative authority,” he said.
Noa concluded by reaffirming the commission’s commitment to its mandate under the law and urged political leaders to use their own administrative powers to combat corruption within their ministries.
“The ACC investigates alleged corrupt practices as defined by law. But other authorities must also fulfil their duties and act where empowered to do so.”
Sankwasa claimed that the ACC failed to act on reports he submitted during his current tenure as minister and previously as deputy minister of works and transport, more than five years ago.
Among his revelations was that the Katima Mulilo Town Council allegedly exchanged land for vehicles, which he described as highly illegal.
Namibian Sun reported on Tuesday that Sankwasa, appointed minister in March, is being hailed as a hero in some quarters for his tough stance against alleged corruption in local authorities.
Poor understanding of ACC’s mandate
But a visibly irate Noa has firmly rejected these assertions, saying they reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the ACC’s legal mandate by the minister.
“Sankwasa’s venomous attack on the ACC, calling it a ‘dead body’, demonstrates his poor understanding of our mandate. He expects the ACC to commit to his wishful thinking, but our duty is not to impulsively act on allegations without first verifying the existence of corrupt practices,” Noa said.
He added that the ACC is committed to conducting thorough investigations, guided by the Anti-Corruption Act, and not motivated by public opinion or political pressure.
Noa also criticised Sankwasa’s anti-corruption campaign at local authorities, likening it to a “headless chicken approach” motivated more by a desire for public praise than substantive outcomes.
“We do not investigate in a headless-chicken style. Nor do we parade our investigations in public just to gain popularity or destroy the reputations of suspects. Reckless action can jeopardise well-intentioned investigations,” Noa warned.
Old cases resurface
Addressing Sankwasa’s claim that the ACC ignored his reports, Noa provided detailed accounts of investigations the commission undertook based on information Sankwasa submitted.
In one instance, Sankwasa - then deputy minister - reported in 2019 that the executive director had approved the demolition of the Okahandja Government Hotel, despite plans to lease it to the Malaysian government for conversion into an educational facility under Limkokwing University.
Noa confirmed that the ACC had investigated this case and submitted the docket to Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa on 13 July 2020.
On 21 December 2020, Imalwa declined to prosecute, citing insufficient evidence.
“Sankwasa was informed of the outcome. For him to now claim that the ACC did nothing is not only a blatant lie but an attempt to tarnish the image of the commission for reasons best known to himself,” Noa said.
Another case Sankwasa referred to - relating to financial irregularities in rehabilitating the Mpacha Airport runway - was reported by then transport minister John Mutorwa, not Sankwasa, Noa clarified.
“The ACC kept Mutorwa updated and explained that expert analysis was required to determine whether the cost escalation was justified. We requested treasury funding to appoint civil engineers, and the minister was fully informed,” Noa said.
New submissions are still under review
Regarding documents submitted by Sankwasa to the ACC on 23 April 2025, Noa explained that these are internal audit reports compiled by the Ministry of urban and rural development in 2022 and 2024.
“The ACC is currently reviewing these reports to determine whether they merit criminal investigation. If not, they will be returned to minister Sankwasa so he can exercise his administrative authority,” he said.
Noa concluded by reaffirming the commission’s commitment to its mandate under the law and urged political leaders to use their own administrative powers to combat corruption within their ministries.
“The ACC investigates alleged corrupt practices as defined by law. But other authorities must also fulfil their duties and act where empowered to do so.”
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