EDITORIAL: Kapofi must wake up to corruption at defence
Defence minister Frans Kapofi’s declaration in parliament yesterday that there is no systemic corruption in his ministry is not only disingenuous - it is downright insulting to the intelligence of Namibians.
If corruption were a national sport, the ministry of defence would be perennial gold medallists.
For Kapofi to stand before the nation and deny what is painfully obvious is a slap in the face of every citizen demanding accountability. His words must have brought comfort to the corrupt - those who have turned the ministry into a personal gold mine. After all, when your boss defends your conduct on national television, why wouldn’t you feel emboldened to steal even more?
This is precisely why no one in that ministry has faced prosecution in recent memory.
Contrast this with health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao, who, despite overseeing one of the most scandal-ridden ministries, at least has the courage to acknowledge the mess and take visible action. She has walked into the offices of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Does Kapofi even know where the ACC offices are?
Namibians are not asking for perfection - they are asking for honesty. They want leaders who tell the truth, not those who bury it under layers of political polish.
Even the unborn know corruption is rife at defence. Kapofi, however, remains blissfully in denial. He cited the suspension of an official over inflated car parts as proof of action - but conveniently forgot that his ministry initially called a press conference to dismiss the very allegations made by activist Job Amupanda. Days later, the CEO of August 26 Holdings was suspended - over the same scandal they had called a lie.
Minister Kapofi, it’s time to take off the blindfold. Namibia deserves better.
If corruption were a national sport, the ministry of defence would be perennial gold medallists.
For Kapofi to stand before the nation and deny what is painfully obvious is a slap in the face of every citizen demanding accountability. His words must have brought comfort to the corrupt - those who have turned the ministry into a personal gold mine. After all, when your boss defends your conduct on national television, why wouldn’t you feel emboldened to steal even more?
This is precisely why no one in that ministry has faced prosecution in recent memory.
Contrast this with health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao, who, despite overseeing one of the most scandal-ridden ministries, at least has the courage to acknowledge the mess and take visible action. She has walked into the offices of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Does Kapofi even know where the ACC offices are?
Namibians are not asking for perfection - they are asking for honesty. They want leaders who tell the truth, not those who bury it under layers of political polish.
Even the unborn know corruption is rife at defence. Kapofi, however, remains blissfully in denial. He cited the suspension of an official over inflated car parts as proof of action - but conveniently forgot that his ministry initially called a press conference to dismiss the very allegations made by activist Job Amupanda. Days later, the CEO of August 26 Holdings was suspended - over the same scandal they had called a lie.
Minister Kapofi, it’s time to take off the blindfold. Namibia deserves better.
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