DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD

The Anti-Corruption Commission is established in terms of Section 2 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 (Act No. 8 of 2003). The Commission is responsible for spearheading the prevention and fight against corruption in the country. It is mandated to perform three major functions:

• To investigate corrupt practices received or initiated by the Commission;
• To prevent corrupt practices by examining practices which may be prone to corrupt practices and provide advisory services on best practices for reducing corrupt incidences; and
• To educate the public on the dangerous effects of corruption and solicit public support.
  

As part of the Commission’s public awareness campaigns, it has to engage the public in order to listen and observe the public’s perception on the prevalence of corruption in the country. In this regard the Commission must from time to time conduct corruption perception surveys either at national or different levels of society. This survey is just one of many different projects the Commission must embark upon to engage the public in the fight against corruption.  The Urban Corruption Perception Survey was conducted in March to April 2011. The survey covers 1206 urban households in all thirteen regions.

The purpose of the survey as indicated earlier is to measure the perception of the people from the age of twenty-one (21) years and older, residing within the Namibian urban areas, on conducts pertaining to corruption.  The survey determines amongst others, the perception on the general developmental challenges facing Namibia, their perception on the level of corruption in Namibia, the experience they have had with temptations or pressure to engage in corrupt acts, as well as their source of information on corruption related conducts. The survey in addition seeks to find out the participants’ perception regarding the work of the Commission.

The survey is designed to obtain essential information that will assist with the development and implementation of future strategies and programs linked to the Anti-Corruption Commission Strategic Plan. In the absence of a country-wide corruption perception survey, the data collected serves as a baseline data on corruption perception level in Namibia. Though it is a mere perception, because of the challenges to measure corruption, it is still significant for us to know where we are and what further needs to be done to raise awareness and reduce corrupt practices in Namibia.

Corruption has a negative effect on national development generally, and its impact spreads across the economic, political and social areas. Economically, corruption raises the cost of doing business, facilitates the misallocation and wastage of resources, discourages foreign investment and retards economic growth and development.

Politically, corruptions undermines the confidence of the people in public institutions, erodes the capacity and legitimacy of the state and the rule of law. Socially, corruption accounts for poor service delivery and inefficient functioning of social services institutions. It exacerbates social inequalities and increases social tensions in the society. It is therefore crucial that all sectors commit themselves to the fight against corruption. 

Finally I would like to express my gratitude, to the Polytechnic of Namibia through the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, the National Planning Commission through the Central Bureau of Statistics, Local and Regional Authorities and every organization that assisted in making this significant project a success. I would also like to thank the Anti-Corruption Commission staff, the survey team, and most importantly, the respondents for their cooperation and willingness to provide information to the survey team.

Let the public make use of the information provided in this report and join hands with the Commission to intensify the fight against corruption.

Download the complete report as PDF file (73 pages, 2.2 MB) below.

• NAMIBIA NATIONAL URBAN CORRUPTION PERCEPTION SURVEY REPORT 2011)