EDITORIAL: Bastos too owes us answers
Allegations that coastal businessman Jose Luis Bastos paid over N$2 million to a fraudster, who masqueraded as Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, raise serious ethical questions.
Perhaps the whole situation gives us rare insight into the dark world of political funding, although it seems in this case the money went to a con man who knew how desperate businesspeople are to be close to political power.
Court papers seem to suggest that Bastos thought the money was going to Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is probably the leading contender for State House next year.
The moral question that springs to mind is: In return for what was he parting with his millions towards what he half-wittedly thought was a political campaign?
While Immanuel Nowaseb - who allegedly burned Bastos’ fingers in this Central Comedy-esque affair - must answer for his sins, Bastos too must come forth and explain what his motive for payment was, and what he expected in return.
This was no modest contribution. Unless Bastos has a tree in his backyard that grows money, it is hard to believe his ‘funding’ was a bleeding-hearted act of sheer generosity.
As per court documents, Nowaseb seems to have dangled a juicy carrot in his face by promising the businessman fishing quotas, which perhaps answers a fraction of our question. In that moment, Nowaseb was impersonating public enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi, who has since denied any involvement in the grand thievery.
Perhaps the whole situation gives us rare insight into the dark world of political funding, although it seems in this case the money went to a con man who knew how desperate businesspeople are to be close to political power.
Court papers seem to suggest that Bastos thought the money was going to Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is probably the leading contender for State House next year.
The moral question that springs to mind is: In return for what was he parting with his millions towards what he half-wittedly thought was a political campaign?
While Immanuel Nowaseb - who allegedly burned Bastos’ fingers in this Central Comedy-esque affair - must answer for his sins, Bastos too must come forth and explain what his motive for payment was, and what he expected in return.
This was no modest contribution. Unless Bastos has a tree in his backyard that grows money, it is hard to believe his ‘funding’ was a bleeding-hearted act of sheer generosity.
As per court documents, Nowaseb seems to have dangled a juicy carrot in his face by promising the businessman fishing quotas, which perhaps answers a fraction of our question. In that moment, Nowaseb was impersonating public enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi, who has since denied any involvement in the grand thievery.
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