Fellow Namibians, we must never allow ourselves to be gaslit by those who seek to justify and normalize corruption. Statements such as “If she were your daughter, you would have done the same” must be rejected outright. That line of reasoning could be used to excuse every criminal act that occurs in our country.
Corruption is a crime, and all crimes must be condemned, regardless of who commits them. We cannot selectively condemn some crimes while justifying others.
Our leaders are expected to hold themselves to a higher moral standard. If a leader cannot uphold a standard higher than that of ordinary citizens, then that particular leader is not fit to occupy a leadership position.
Namibians must never allow our country to sink to the levels seen in some West and East African states, where leaders abuse positions of power to loot public resources and enrich their families and friends. Such leaders do not only disgrace their own families, but bring shame upon the entire nation.
Furthermore, the NCS’s attempt to justify this recruitment backfired spectacularly. In doing so, they exposed the fact that the young woman did not meet the basic minimum requirements for the position and was employed solely on the basis of so-called “added advantages” in this case, being a hairdresser.
Are we being told that in Namibia, if a post such as Director is advertised and a driver’s licence is listed as an advantage, anyone with a driver’s licence could be employed purely on that basis?
Corruption when it comes from institutions and individuals who are meant to fight it is an insult to the nation. The position occupied by this young woman, and others like her, was taken away from deserving and qualified candidates. This is deeply unfair and undermines public trust in our institutions.
