EDITORAL: ACC resurgence welcome, but consistency is key
The perceived resurgence of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), credited by some to the current administration’s hardline approach, is a development Namibians can cautiously applaud. After years of high-profile scandals seemingly ignored, a sense of renewed vigour at the commission is a relief.
Some observers claim the recent Namcor-related arrests are proof that ACC had been sitting on the matter until government changed hands in March. If true, kudos to the new administration and shame on ACC.
Yet ACC maintains that the renewed activity is a product of new evidence or decisions from the prosecutor-general. That explanation strains credibility.
Consider the inconsistency. Less than a year ago, ACC looked the other way as a former higher education minister allegedly coerced public enterprises into funding her globetrotting. The commission effectively became her spokesperson, defending her actions as above board, while her ministry’s executive director faced reprimand for merely following instructions. Contrast this with the arrest of a lowly handyman in Oshikoto earlier this year for allegedly soliciting a N$300 bribe - while the fabrication of an N$8 million quotation for a military vehicle spare part at August 26 Holdings went unpunished. The scale and impact of corruption could not be more different, yet ACC appears to treat them differently.
The recent wave of arrests is commendable, yes. It signals that the commission can act, and that no one is beyond scrutiny. But Namibians deserve more. Accountability must be applied consistently, from the humblest bribe-seeker to the highest-ranking officials who misappropriate millions.
The commission's current momentum is a step in the right direction, but the road to genuine integrity is long. To restore public confidence, ACC must be fearless, impartial, and unwavering - regardless of political convenience. Anything short of this is mere performance.
Some observers claim the recent Namcor-related arrests are proof that ACC had been sitting on the matter until government changed hands in March. If true, kudos to the new administration and shame on ACC.
Yet ACC maintains that the renewed activity is a product of new evidence or decisions from the prosecutor-general. That explanation strains credibility.
Consider the inconsistency. Less than a year ago, ACC looked the other way as a former higher education minister allegedly coerced public enterprises into funding her globetrotting. The commission effectively became her spokesperson, defending her actions as above board, while her ministry’s executive director faced reprimand for merely following instructions. Contrast this with the arrest of a lowly handyman in Oshikoto earlier this year for allegedly soliciting a N$300 bribe - while the fabrication of an N$8 million quotation for a military vehicle spare part at August 26 Holdings went unpunished. The scale and impact of corruption could not be more different, yet ACC appears to treat them differently.
The recent wave of arrests is commendable, yes. It signals that the commission can act, and that no one is beyond scrutiny. But Namibians deserve more. Accountability must be applied consistently, from the humblest bribe-seeker to the highest-ranking officials who misappropriate millions.
The commission's current momentum is a step in the right direction, but the road to genuine integrity is long. To restore public confidence, ACC must be fearless, impartial, and unwavering - regardless of political convenience. Anything short of this is mere performance.
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