Paulus Noa speaks

Fact box:

• Appointed ACC director general: 2006
• Years served: 20
• Presidents served under: 4
• Successor nominee: Bryan Eiseb

Tenure numbers:

• 7 503 complaints registered
• 3 459 rejected after assessment
• 4 044 investigated
• 2 812 concluded
• 92 awaiting PG decision
• 430 finalised in court
• 332 still before the court

When Paulus Noa reported for duty as Namibia's first Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general in January 2006, the position was so new it did not yet exist in any practical sense – he had no headquarters, no staff and not even an office from which to operate.

Two decades later, he leaves behind a fully fledged national anti-corruption agency with specialised forensic, intelligence and anti-money laundering divisions, regional offices, and more than 7 500 corruption complaints processed.

With President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah having nominated Financial Intelligence Centre director Bryan Eiseb as his successor, Noa sat down with Namibian Sun to reflect on the challenges of building Namibia's anti-corruption watchdog from scratch, defending its independence, navigating public criticism and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

For Noa, the early years were defined by uncertainty.

“There were no logistic arrangements like offices and infrastructure put in place. We were advised to find our way out to get a place where we could operate from while working on the structure of ACC,” he recalled.

Compounding those challenges was a flood of public complaints at a time when the commission itself was still finding its feet.

Many complaints, he said, fell outside the commission's legal mandate, while others related to incidents that predated the Anti-Corruption Act.

“As soon as you provide feedback on declining investigation, they get emotional and conclude that the commission is toothless and the director is incompetent,” Noa said, recalling the immense pressure to investigate every allegation regardless of whether the law allowed it.

Recognising the overwhelming workload, Noa approached the then inspector general of police, Sebastian Ndeitunga, for assistance.

“I am thankful to General Ndeitunga because of his supportive approach at the time. That built the spirit of joint support and cooperation that ACC and the Namibian Police maintain to date,” he said.

Brick by brick, step by step

Looking back, Noa said one of his proudest achievements was not a single corruption investigation, but creating the institution itself.

“During my tenure, we have been able to set up the staff structure of the ACC.”

The commission established specialised directorates for investigations, public education and corruption prevention, forensic investigations, intelligence and anti-money laundering.

Regional offices were also opened in Oshana, Otjozondjupa, Kavango East and Erongo.

“My dream was to eventually establish regional offices in all fourteen regions, but the budget allocated every financial year has been limited. Hopefully, the incoming management will continue from where I left off,” he said.

Beyond Namibia's borders, Noa also worked to position the ACC within international anti-corruption networks, serving in leadership positions within the United Nations and regional anti-corruption bodies.

“I have been able to put Namibia on the global map by connecting ACC to all counterpart institutions in the SADC region, African continent and globally.”

Changing face of corruption

While corruption once meant cash changing hands in envelopes, Noa said today's schemes are far more sophisticated.

“I fully agree that corruption is no longer committed using traditional ways, such as the brown envelopes. It is more perpetrated through complex financial transactions,” he said.

That evolution, he argued, requires sophisticated investigative tools.

He believes Namibia urgently needs cybercrime legislation and broader anti-corruption laws capable of addressing illicit enrichment, financial crime and corruption facilitated through advancing technologies.

“Corruption has become so sophisticated due to fast technological advancement and the use of artificial intelligence," he warned.

The final tally

Since the ACC opened its doors in 2006, it has registered 7 503 complaints.

Of those, 3 459 were rejected after assessment because they were found to involve personal disputes, administrative matters or allegations falling outside the commission's mandate.

A further 4 044 cases were investigated.

According to Noa, 2 812 investigations have been concluded, while 92 cases are currently awaiting decisions from the prosecutor general.

Another 430 matters have been finalised by the courts, while 332 remain pending trial.

Criticism part of the job

Throughout his tenure, Noa has frequently faced criticism that the ACC was either too slow or reluctant to pursue high-profile corruption cases.

Noa rejected the criticism, saying many critics either misunderstood the commission's legal mandate or expected investigations where no legal basis existed.

“My principle has been to execute the mandate as provided in the law without fear or favour,” he said. “We are guided by the legal framework and do not investigate to merely please the public. We value the rights and dignity of every person in Namibia."

He expressed confidence in Nandi-Ndaitwah's nomination of Eiseb as his successor. And he is happy to share hard-won lessons: "He must develop a thick skin and be ready to act against any wrongdoer, irrespective of the status of the person, as long as there is evidence to justify the action.

“He must not compromise his moral fortitude or the ACC's good reputation and integrity,” Noa added.

He cautioned that leading the commission can be isolating.

“Being at the helm of ACC is, unfortunately, a lonely environment, risky, you have few selected friends and many critics,” Noa said. “Leading the ACC was no walk in the park,” he added.

Unfinished business, legacy of integrity

Despite serving for almost two decades, Noa said his work remains unfinished.

He wants to see the ACC Act strengthened, the commission's staffing structure expanded, and salaries improved to stem the loss of experienced investigators.

He said the agency has lost 22 highly trained investigators to institutions offering better pay, including the Namibia Revenue Agency and the Financial Intelligence Centre.

“Unless the proposed structure is approved and salaries and conditions of service of ACC staff are improved, the commission will become a mere white elephant, unable to effectively carry out the mandate of this noble institution,” he cautioned.

Reflecting on his legacy, Noa said he leaves with few regrets.

“My team and I served prudently with utmost integrity.

“We carefully considered every suspect's right and dignity... and took decisions in good faith without malice,” Noa said.

As he prepares to hand over to a new generation of leadership, he underlined that the fight against corruption should never rest on one individual.

“The success of fighting corruption does not depend on an individual, but concerted efforts.”

Noa’s tenure officially ends 31 July.