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The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) which is the first legally binding global instrument in the fight against corruption entered into force on 14 December 2005.  The State Parties to this Convention signed the Convention in recognition of the fact that corruption is not just a local evil but a transnational phenomenon that affects all societies and economies.  Therefore international cooperation to prevent and fight corruption is essential.  State Parties further acknowledge the need to adhere to the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and to foster a culture of rejection of corruption.

Ever since this global Convention entered into force, many countries put mechanisms in place for the prevention and fight against corruption.  Namibia was not left behind by the international trends.  Namibia is one of the countries which signed the Convention at the High level Political Signing Conference held in Merida, Mexico, from 9 to 11 December 2003. The Government subsequently ratified the Convention as well.

Our Government in keeping to its promise to fight corruption did not only accede to international obligation but also to regional and sub-regional commitments, and thus the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the SADC Protocol Against Corruption were signed and ratified.  All three instruments have common objectives which are:-

• to promote and strengthen the development of mechanisms relating to the prevention, detection, punishment, and eradication of corruption;
• to promote, facilitate and regulate co-operation amongst member states in the fight against corruption; and
• to develop and harmonize policies and domestic legislation relating to anti-corruption between the member states.
  

Most of the provisions of the three anti-corruption instruments are obligatory.  Particularly, the UNCAC makes it an obligation that a State Party must develop and implement or maintain effective, coordinated anti-corruption policies that promote the participation of society.  It further calls for the proper management of public affairs and public property, integrity, transparency and accountability.  This clearly entails that effective means in addressing the scourge of corruption require collaboration and complementary, committed and concerted action from all sectors of our society.  Just as we agree that fighting corruption presupposes socio-economic development, we need at the same time to acknowledge the fact that the fight against corruption cannot be left to ACC alone. The battle against corruption should not be seen as the exclusive responsibility of the Government, ACC and few individuals. It is a national concern.  All members of our society need to take rightful ownership of the battle against corruption.

The Anti-Corruption Act makes it an obligation for any member of society who sees corrupt practice being perpetrated to immediately report such practice.  Failure to do so amounts to an offence. By virtue of this, there is an obligation on members of society to actively take part in preventative measures against corruption.  Raising awareness on corruption is a duty of every citizen of this country. Prevention is a best weapon against corruption.

Whereas ACC is the leading agency in the fight against corruption by virtue of its mandate provided for in the Act, its effectiveness depends on the complementary massive participation of the society as a whole.  Any anti-corruption agency anywhere else in the world can only be effective in the environment where there are well designed policies and integrity systems for all public institutions aimed at curbing corruption.  It also functions effectively in the environment where public officials adhere to policies put in place and when these policies are defied, punitive measures are taken against the culprits.

Corruption is a crime against the well-being of the people. It hurts everybody without discrimination. It is therefore a wrong committed against everybody irrespective of your position in the society. Of course the poor are always the first victims of corruption. The common type of corrupt practices perpetrated; especially in Namibia come in the form of what some people may prefer to call “administrative corruption”.  This comes in a form of abuse of rules, procedures, ignorance of tender regulations, mismanagement of public funds and properties. Lack of integrity, transparency and accountability are some of the contributing factors to these forms of corrupt practices. Contrary to the perception of some members of society, this type of corrupt practices is as dangerous and destructive to the economy.  Corruption is a crime and a crime must be dealt with.

When those holding public offices do not take their responsibilities seriously, then the Namibian public who are entitled to public service delivery becomes the victims.  Therefore, in order to guard against this unethical conducts every citizen must be a watchdog guarding against mismanagement of public resources. Citizens are entitled to demand accountability from those entrusted with public offices. Public institutions are under duty to ensure that preventive measures like codes of conduct, transparent procurement and financial management systems and policies to avoid conflict of interest are all put in place.  On the battlefront against corruption we are all equal partners. Everyone has an indispensable role to play in order to take Namibia to greater heights of prosperity. The economy of this country will only grow and participation of the majority of the citizens in the national economy is only guaranteed when citizenry declares zero tolerance for corruption. Fair distribution of resources and corruption do not go together.  Combating of corruption is a precondition to the equitable distribution of public resources to the society.

Many forms of corrupt practices which some people prefer to call “petty” corruption are very corrosive and have long term negative impact to the society.  The recently released World Bank report on “Quiet Corruption” indicates that “Quiet corruption” although smaller in monetary terms, is particularly harmful for the poor, who are more vulnerable and more reliant on government services and public systems to satisfy their most basic needs. The report further reads, “Quiet corruption does not make the headlines the way bribery scandals do, but it is just as corrosive to societies.  Tackling quiet corruption will require a combination of strong and committed leadership, policies and institutions at the sectoral level, and most important increased accountability and participation by citizens”.

The findings of this report are quite relevant to our own context. The frequent absenteeism of public officials from official duties during office hours to attend to private business lowers public service delivery. Reports are received that some school teachers who own shebeens in the vicinity of their schools do not dedicate their full official time to their schoolwork.  As a result of non- commitment to the official duties, learners may not perform as desired during examinations because they have not been fully prepared. These learners will suffer long term damage during their adulthood, because of low cognitive skills. Complaints have also been received that some public officials are not even ashamed to leave their offices during office hours to attend to their shebeens especially in Katutura Sub-urbans. Numerous complaints are also received that some medical practitioners employed by the Government, Ministry of Health and Social Services, when upon application, permission is granted to them to perform private practice during certain specified hours, they simply neglect state patients to attend to their private practice while they should have been on official duties attending to state patients.  At the end of the month these public officials are paid their full salaries which they did not fully work for.  Then there are those who use public properties to run private errands.

Whether we want to believe it or not, frequent absenteeism from duties has serious negative consequences to service delivery and ultimately to the growth of the economy just like the mismanagement of public funds and public property.  We need to take note that corruption is an invisible theft.  When a public official is paid his full salary at the end of the month when he in fact was absent from duty, part of his salary is received through theft. This is just as good a crime as bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, favouritism and any other form of corruptly receiving gratification.

Given the above scenario, every Namibian must be a watchdog to see to it that these unbecoming conducts do not take root in our society.   Corruption has a long term devastating impact and in the end we all become the victims.  Everyone must make it his or her business to prevent corruption from engulfing our great country. Corruption starts slowly but surely it deepens its roots. Transparency in public administration is most enhanced when citizens collectively or individually actively participate in activities aimed at curbing corruption.  Transparency is further enhanced when citizens partner with law enforcement agencies in their quest to combat corruption.

No institution can single-handedly succeed to vanquish corruption.  Let the battle against corruption in Namibia be own by all of us, the government, private sector, civil society, media and individuals.  Particularly the youths who are future national leaders of this country are indispensable partners in the fight against this global phenomenon.  Everyone of us must be patriotic and says No to corruption. Let us resist, reject and report corruption!

Paulus Noa
Director: Anti-Corruption Commission