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Page 1 of 9 REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VOTE 30 ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION BUDGET MOTIVATION SPEECH 2019/20FINANCIAL YEAR BY HON.

DR. SAMUEL CHIEF ANKAMA DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER 23APRIL 2018 Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 2of9 1.
Madame Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, the Anti-Corruption Commission is established as an independent and impartial body with powers, functions and duties as provided for in its enabling legislation.
Although the Office of the Prime Minister is responsible for motivating its budget in this august house, the Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Commission is responsible for the direction and control of the Commission, inclusive of the decisions to investigate complaints and the decisions to refer matters to the Prosecutor-General.

2.

I shall to the extent possible, attempt to provide clarifications and responses to the queries from the Honourable Members.
However, it is only the Director-General of the Commission who would be competent to provide answers in as far as decisions to investigate or refer matters to the Prosecutor- General are concerned.

3.

Madame Chairperson, the year 2019 marks the 13th year of the existence of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

4.
4.

In the last thirteen years, and amid numerous campaigns and efforts to fight corruption, the foundation has been laid for an impartial body whose officials exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour or prejudice.

Namibia now has, in the Anti-Corruption Commission, an institution with the potential to weather the storms of corruption.

5.

The institution has been transformed into Namibia's leading body in the fight against corruption.
Through the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2016 - 2019, the ACC coordinates national efforts to prevent corruption.

Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 30f9 6.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2016 - 2019 includes strategies aimed at inculcating ethical leadership in our public institutions.

This Strategy promotes leadership that has the ingredients of integrity and courage.
I am pleased to inform you that the nation has started to reap benefits from the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

7.

Efforts to increase the level of political accountability through enforcement of political party transparency as contained in Chapter 4 of the Electoral Act, 2014 (Act No 5 of 2014) are starting to bear fruits.
An increasing number of political parties are now regularly reporting to the nation on their party financing and the public has been sensitized of this requirement.

8.

Through the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, the Commission has been advocating for internal reforms to strengthen procedures and reduce opportunities and incentives for corruption in our public institutions.

Namibia shall soon have integrity committees to promote ethical behaviour in ministries/ offices and agencies.

9.
9.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy also aims to prevent corruption in the private sector, especially in the extractive and fishing sectors through the promotion of mechanisms such as transparent licensing and transparent rights and quota allocations.

The interventions with the fishing sector will soon produce corruption risk mitigating actions.

10.

The above are just some of the measures that will significantly contribute to a strong anti-corruption culture in amibia.
An anti-corruption culture, once fully developed, will have to be kept intact by enforcement.

11.

The vision is "A corrupt-free Namibia" and what is necessary must be done to achieve and retain it.

We shall continue to lead the fight against corruption Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 4 of 9 through effective law enforcement and the implementation of preventative measures.

12.
12.

Before I present the Budget Proposal for Vote 30, allow me, Chairperson of the Whole House Committee to reflect on the major achievements during the financial year 2018/19.

13.

The initial allocation for the financial year 2018/19 was SIXTY MILLION NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS which was later reduced to SIXTY MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS after the Midterm Budget Review.
Compared to the 2017/18 allocation of FIFTY NINE MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS, the ACC budget increased by a mere ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS from the 2017/18 to the 2018/19 financial year.

Considering the increase in personnel and the inflation rate, the above picture presents a scenario of dwindling resources.

The medium term outlook indicates similar trends in allocations.
The situation requires innovative thinking and new ways of doing things so that we can achieve more with less.

14.

The 2018/19 allocation was utilized in the investigative work, the delivery of anti-corruption messages to the public and in efforts to prevent or curb corruption.

15.
Between April 2018 and March 2019, the Commission dealt with 375 cases in the following manner: (a) 50 were finalized and referred to the Prosecutor-General with a recommendation that criminal prosecution be instituted; Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 5 of 9 (b) 17 cases, after preliminary investigations were conducted, in terms of section 3(c) read with section 18(3) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003, were referred to other institutions for further handling; (c) 185 cases, after investigations were conducted, were closed as the allegations were, amongst others, either unfounded or could not be substantiated; (d) 9 preliminary inquiries are ongoing; (e) 114 corruption investigations are ongoing.
16.

In the area of public education and corruption prevention, the Commission continued to coordinate the activities of the National Anti-Corruption Steering Committee in addition to disseminating anti-corruption messages country-wide.

The Commission further carried out 13 risk assessments at public institutions to establish corruption vulnerabilities.

17.

The proposed allocation to Vote 30 for the 2019/20 financial year is SIXTY ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS.
The 2019/20 allocation is EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS above the SIXTY MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS allocated in the previous financial year.

18.
The allocation is to be divided among the three programmes as follows: • Programme 1: Investigation of allegations of corruption, an amount of TWENTY THREE MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS, is to be allocated; Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 6 of 9 • Programme 2: Corruption Prevention, an amount of TWELVE MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS is to be allocated; • Programme 3: Policy Coordination and Support Services, an amount of TWENTY FIVE MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS is to be allocated.
19.

The allocation of TWENTY THREE MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS, to the programme dealing with the investigation of allegations of corruption will enable the Commission to - (a) carry out investigative work all over Namibia; (b) train Investigating Officers on modern investigative techniques; (c) maintain modern software analysis programmes; (d) engage experts in specialized fields to assist with the investigations of specialized cases.

20.
20.

The limited financial resources will render the Commission unable to investigate all allegations of corruption.

The situation thus calls for implementation of cost saving measuring whilst ensuring value for money in the execution of statutory functions.

21.
21.

In deciding whether an investigation into an alleged corrupt practices 1S warranted, we shall amongst other factors have to consider the seriousness of the allegation, involvement to which the allegation relates, and whether or Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 7 of 9 not, the carrying out of an investigation, for the purposes of the legislation in relation to the allegation, is justified and in the public interest.

22.
22.

Inevitably, it would be required to prioritize allegations of corrupt practices that have the potential to undermine the country's commercial and financial interest, cases with huge potential financial loss to the country and cases where there is a significant public interest element.

This approach will go a long way in addressing society's perception that high profile cases are not attended to promptly or at all.

23.
23.

The above-mentioned cases are often of a highly complex nature necessitating the engagement of experts in specific fields.

However, the current level of funding would only allow for a limited number of investigations of such nature to be undertaken.

24.

Programme 2, dealing with Public Education and Corruption Prevention will be allocated an amount of TWELVE MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS.

25.
The funding will be deployed towards the - (a) coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the National Anti-Corruption Steering Committee; (b) evaluation of the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2016 - 2019; (c) development of the post 2019 National Anti-Corruption Strategy; (d) establishment and training of the integrity committees in ministries/ offices/ and agencies, including the regional and local authority structures; (e) risk assessments at public institutions to establish corruption vulnerabilities.
Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 8of9 26.

Programme 3, Policy Coordination and Support Services will benefit to the tune of TWENTY FIVE MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS.

27.
27.

The funds will be utilized for the - (a) rental of office premises in Oshakati, Otjiwarongo and Swakopmund; (b) utilities (municipal and telecommunication costs); (c) training of staff; (d) rental of vehicles from the Government Garage; (e) management support costs.

28.

Funds will also be deployed towards the review of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 (Act No.8 of 2003) that will continue this year.

The review is scheduled for completion in the 2019/20 financial year.

29.
29.

Madame Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, corruption 1S prevalent in our country.

Corruption is amongst us.

It is an enemy that we must confront in a decisive manner.

Tackling corruption, especially organised corruption schemes require adequate in-house human resources capacity as well as specialized skills that can only be obtained from the private sector at a high cost.

We shall have to re-examine the formula by which we fund ACe.
A higher level of funding is a prerequisite to transforming the ACC into a formidable corruption-busting body that the nation yearns for.

In this regard the attention of this August House is also drawn to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption which requires of State Parties to adequately equip and fund anti-corruption bodies.

Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission Page 9 of 9 30.
Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, permit me to request the House to approve the expenditure of SIXTY ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND NAMIBIA DOLLARS as set out in the Schedule of the Appropriation Bill for 2019/20 in respect of the Anti- Corruption Commission.

I thank you.

Budget Motivation Speech Vote 30 FY 2019/20 Anti-Corruption Commission