Editorial: Cabinet To Fail Another Test?

WHAT will it take to finally spur our Government into action, especially on issues of corruption and maladministration? We make particular reference to the now six-month-old saga of taking action against those responsible for allowing 230 tonnes of food aid to rot in a warehouse in Caprivi.

From the outset, the case seemed to be an open-and-shut one. Government itself took the unprecedented step of making a public revelation of the scandal; and after a speedy official investigation, categorical pronouncements followed by the Deputy Prime Minister that action would be taken against those responsible.A half a year later, nobody seems to know quite where the matter is at present.This is ridiculous beyond belief.This week, Minister of Regional and Local Government John Pandeni, who was reportedly tasked with follow-up, said he’s delegated responsibility to the Caprivi Regional Council, excluding the Governor, Bernard Sibalatani.There has obviously been a very serious dereliction of duties with regard to certain Cabinet members in the handling (or non-handling) of this matter.Never mind that the original offence caused by, in all likelihood, the Governor of the region in question who headed the Regional Emergency Management Unit (Remu), also involved dereliction of duties! Pandeni said that although the matter had been referred to the Caprivi Regional Council, it should exclude the Governor, naturally the Chair of said Council, because it would represent a conflict of interests.In our mind, the fact that the matter has been referred to the very Council under which Remu falls, is itself a conflict of interests.There is absolutely no reason, as far as we can establish, why Cabinet itself could not rule on the matter.Secretary to Cabinet Frans Kapofi feels that Cabinet did their duty and that it was up to the Ministry in question to execute the decisions taken, but the Minister of Local Government is passing the buck to the Caprivi Regional Council.This newspaper, and the public at large, were impressed with the initial revelation by the Cabinet Secretary of the food scandal, and the speedy action taken to investigate.But this was months ago, and nothing has been done since.If fingers can be pointed at Minister Pandeni for failing to carry out the instructions of Cabinet, then the answer to the dilemma is already categorically clear: suspend or dismiss the Minister for failing to execute his Constitutional pledge.Then appoint a new Minister who will finally execute the Cabinet decision.What seems to lie at the root of the problem is the fact that there is, once again, politics at play and that in this case, the Minister is reluctant to charge elected officials with misconduct and negligence, as he has been authorised to do.It is high time that members of Cabinet have the courage of their convictions, and are able to act, when they need to do so, without fear or favour.If they are unable to do so, as seems to be the case at present, then President Hifikepunye Pohamba should surely take issue with members of the executive.He is the one, at the end of the day, who, with all his talk about zero tolerance for corruption and mismanagement, is allowing Cabinet members to flout his policies.And he too, finally, needs to show muscle when it comes to issues such as these, or, like his predecessor face questions as to why he is loath to put his words into action.If he does not spur his Ministers into action, then Cabinet will fail yet another crucial test on corruption.Government itself took the unprecedented step of making a public revelation of the scandal; and after a speedy official investigation, categorical pronouncements followed by the Deputy Prime Minister that action would be taken against those responsible.A half a year later, nobody seems to know quite where the matter is at present.This is ridiculous beyond belief.This week, Minister of Regional and Local Government John Pandeni, who was reportedly tasked with follow-up, said he’s delegated responsibility to the Caprivi Regional Council, excluding the Governor, Bernard Sibalatani.There has obviously been a very serious dereliction of duties with regard to certain Cabinet members in the handling (or non-handling) of this matter.Never mind that the original offence caused by, in all likelihood, the Governor of the region in question who headed the Regional Emergency Management Unit (Remu), also involved dereliction of duties! Pandeni said that although the matter had been referred to the Caprivi Regional Council, it should exclude the Governor, naturally the Chair of said Council, because it would represent a conflict of interests.In our mind, the fact that the matter has been referred to the very Council under which Remu falls, is itself a conflict of interests.There is absolutely no reason, as far as we can establish, why Cabinet itself could not rule on the matter.Secretary to Cabinet Frans Kapofi feels that Cabinet did their duty and that it was up to the Ministry in question to execute the decisions taken, but the Minister of Local Government is passing the buck to the Caprivi Regional Council.This newspaper, and the public at large, were impressed with the initial revelation by the Cabinet Secretary of the food scandal, and the speedy action taken to investigate.But this was months ago, and nothing has been done since.If fingers can be pointed at Minister Pandeni for failing to carry out the instructions of Cabinet, then the answer to the dilemma is already categorically clear: suspend or dismiss the Minister for failing to execute his Constitutional pledge.Then appoint a new Minister who will finally execute the Cabinet decision.What seems to lie at the root of the problem is the fact that there is, once again, politics at play and that in this case, the Minister is reluctant to charge elected officials with misconduct and negligence, as he has been authorised to do.It is high time that members of Cabinet have the courage of their convictions, and are able to act, when they need to do so, without fear or favour.If they are unable to do so, as seems to be the case at present, then President Hifikepunye Pohamba should surely take issue with members of the executive.He is the one, at the end of the day, who, with all his talk about zero tolerance for corruption and mismanagement, is allowing Cabinet members to flout his policies.And he too, finally, needs to show muscle when it comes to issues such as these, or, like his predecessor face questions as to why he is loath to put his words into action.If he does not spur his Ministers into action, then Cabinet will fail yet another crucial test on corruption.