EDITORIAL: The slow wheels of justice
Former education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa is yet to learn her fate from prosecuting authorities eight years after being accused of corruptly gifting her son a resettlement farm.
This is not fair to her, her son or the taxpayer, whose land was supposedly distributed like candy on Christmas Day. An albatross cannot be slung around someone's neck for nearly a decade; they must either be punished or be allowed to live their lives free of prejudice.
The fact that a decision has not yet been taken in this regard - and for so long - can lead to serious negative consequences on those accused and their families. Hanse-Himarwa was a rising star in Swapo politics, but that identity has been lost – perhaps mainly due to the 2019 corruption conviction she has under her belt. She deserves a second bite at the cherry, but she cannot rebrand herself with this farm matter still pending.
For as long as the prosecutor-general decision is not made, the accusations will continue to be a mark of disgrace in the court of public opinion.
Her health, both psychological and physical, could be affected. Her relationships with others - especially in politics where associations are a key commodity - will be ruined. There could also be real impact on her personal finances and employment prospects – all this while officials at the prosecutor-general’s office are sipping coffee and playing poker on their gigantic work computers. It’s not fair!
This is not fair to her, her son or the taxpayer, whose land was supposedly distributed like candy on Christmas Day. An albatross cannot be slung around someone's neck for nearly a decade; they must either be punished or be allowed to live their lives free of prejudice.
The fact that a decision has not yet been taken in this regard - and for so long - can lead to serious negative consequences on those accused and their families. Hanse-Himarwa was a rising star in Swapo politics, but that identity has been lost – perhaps mainly due to the 2019 corruption conviction she has under her belt. She deserves a second bite at the cherry, but she cannot rebrand herself with this farm matter still pending.
For as long as the prosecutor-general decision is not made, the accusations will continue to be a mark of disgrace in the court of public opinion.
Her health, both psychological and physical, could be affected. Her relationships with others - especially in politics where associations are a key commodity - will be ruined. There could also be real impact on her personal finances and employment prospects – all this while officials at the prosecutor-general’s office are sipping coffee and playing poker on their gigantic work computers. It’s not fair!
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