AR pushes for ACC probe into Ya Ndakolo

Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda has told the hundreds of youth, who attended a summit this past Saturday in Windhoek, that they can lay criminal charges against public officials who misuse taxpayers’ money. Amupanda also announced that the youth will circulate copies of a letter of complaint letter about Defence Minister Penda ya Ndakolo’s massive hotel bill, in a bid to put pressure on the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate. This comes after a public outcry following media reports about the taxpayer having to foot the bill for Ya Ndakolo’s N$1 million six-month stay at a luxury Windhoek hotel. Amupanda urged Namibian youth to sign the letters of complaint, as well as enquire from ACC Director Paulus Noah whether he is investigating the issue. “We as the youth will make cases against Ya Ndakolo, if Paulus Noah from Anti-Corruption Commission doesn’t do something about this nonsense, which the politicians are busy doing. We will all send him complaint letters and give him a deadline, and if not; we will show them that we are no longer sleeping,” said Amupanda. He also made it clear they are not revolutionaries, but are fighting for houses and the dignity of Namibian youth. “We do not even apologise, we want to be landowners. Who does not want to be a landowner? We are fighting for practical benefits,” said Amupanda. The summit further addressed the role of the AR movement in education, its relationship with Namibian civil society and the difference between power and the State. The AR leaders, in a discussion paper, pointed out that because of government’s overwhelming power that allows it to do as it pleases, civil society is weak and often unable to confront the State. “The AR analysis is that civil society has effectively been dwarfed and undermined by the ruling elite. It has no backbone or whatsoever,” the discussion paper stated. It also indicated that the AR movement should use its social capital to provide leadership to Namibian civil society, to strengthen it. The outcomes of the summit will be announced this week. JEMIMA BEUKES