Inaction Is Also Corrupt

THE recent release of the 2006 Global Corruption Report again highlights the need to effectively tackle corruption on the subcontinent.

The report does not paint a good picture of governance in sub-Saharan Africa, where 38 out of 46 countries are ranked as ‘weak’ in terms of performance in this regard, and also exhibit worse governance than the world average. The report in question focused on corruption in the health sector, which is of course one of the most crucial in any country.Transparency International recently ranked Namibia as the 47th most corrupt country in the world, a slide down from the 54th position it held in 2004.This indicates that despite a renewed focus on the problem of corruption in Namibia, particularly by President Hifikepunye Pohamba since he took office in March 2005, things have not yet taken a turn for the better.There have been a number of initiatives taken to highlight and deal with this scourge, such as the appointment of an Anti-Corruption Commission in Namibia and the launch of campaigns such as Zero Tolerance to give further impetus to these efforts.Despite the abovementioned and continued reporting by the media on glaring cases of bad governance and fraudulent activities across the country, there are few signs that lessons are being learned.It is one thing to uncover corruption.It is quite another to follow up and prosecute where transgressions have been investigated and found to have basis.And this is where we find the authorities severely lacking at present.The top office bearers of the Anti Corruption Commission have already been in office for almost five months.During this time they have been rendered ineffective because of the lack of a budget, as well as staff and resources.Last month the ACC was finally given N$6,5 million to get started, but so far we have seen no tangible evidence that work has started in earnest.We remain hopeful that such signs will be forthcoming in the very near future.The new office bearers need to show the country as a whole that they are able to do something, anything, even if everything is not yet in place and resources not yet allocated to do the job.Not every reported case of graft and mismanagement requires crack investigative or Police teams to be exposed and dealt with.But the message needs to go out that there is firm intention and commitment to start tackling issues with immediate effect.The President himself has been very vocal on the subject, which is positive, but he too needs to show that he has the necessary political will to give effect to his promises to deal with this evil.He needs to look at what he personally can do to give a strong message to actual and would-be transgressors, particularly in Government and parastatal ranks.And he can start the ball rolling by examining some of the reports on his desk, which would include an earlier probe into the Social Security Commission, and ensure that action is taken in terms of the recommendations of said reports.If it is necessary to take action against certain people, however prominent they may be in various sectors in Namibia, then this must be done and the President must have the conviction to give effect to his words.It is not enough to encourage whistle-blowers to come forward, for such people are often taking personal risks in uncovering corruption, and they will be all the more loath to do so if they know action will not be forthcoming.The ACC is one, but not the only mechanism to deal with this problem, and the State needs to harness all its resources, some of which are being wasted, to make this the number one priority.Our health and education systems can be said to be directly affected by continuing bad governance, and these are aspects of Government that most directly affect the people who need Government help and assistance the most.Failure to act against corruption is as costly and criminal as the deed itself.The report in question focused on corruption in the health sector, which is of course one of the most crucial in any country.Transparency International recently ranked Namibia as the 47th most corrupt country in the world, a slide down from the 54th position it held in 2004.This indicates that despite a renewed focus on the problem of corruption in Namibia, particularly by President Hifikepunye Pohamba since he took office in March 2005, things have not yet taken a turn for the better.There have been a number of initiatives taken to highlight and deal with this scourge, such as the appointment of an Anti-Corruption Commission in Namibia and the launch of campaigns such as Zero Tolerance to give further impetus to these efforts.Despite the abovementioned and continued reporting by the media on glaring cases of bad governance and fraudulent activities across the country, there are few signs that lessons are being learned.It is one thing to uncover corruption.It is quite another to follow up and prosecute where transgressions have been investigated and found to have basis.And this is where we find the authorities severely lacking at present.The top office bearers of the Anti Corruption Commission have already been in office for almost five months.During this time they have been rendered ineffective because of the lack of a budget, as well as staff and resources.Last month the ACC was finally given N$6,5 million to get started, but so far we have seen no tangible evidence that work has started in earnest.We remain hopeful that such signs will be forthcoming in the very near future.The new office bearers need to show the country as a whole that they are able to do something, anything, even if everything is not yet in place and resources not yet allocated to do the job.Not every reported case of graft and mismanagement requires crack investigative or Police teams to be exposed and dealt with.But the message needs to go out that there is firm intention and commitment to start tackling issues with immediate effect.The President himself has been very vocal on the subject, which is positive, but he too needs to show that he has the necessary political will to give effect to his promises to deal with this evil.He needs to look at what he personally can do to give a strong message to actual and would-be transgressors, particularly in Government and parastatal ranks.And he can start the ball rolling by examining some of the reports on his desk, which would include an earlier probe into the Social Security Commission, and ensure that action is taken in terms of the recommendations of said reports.If it is necessary to take action against certain people, however prominent they may be in various sectors in Namibia, then this must be done and the President must have the conviction to give effect to his words.It is not enough to encourage whistle-blowers to come forward, for such people are often taking personal risks in uncovering corruption, and they will be all the more loath to do so if they know action will not be forthcoming.The ACC is one, but not the only mechanism to deal with this problem, and the State needs to harness all its resources, some of which are being wasted, to make this the number one priority.Our health and education systems can be said to be directly affected by continuing bad governance, and these are aspects of Government that most directly affect the people who need Government help and assistance the most.Failure to act against corruption is as costly and criminal as the deed itself.