AR is not the new ACC: Noa

WINDHOEK, 08 MAY  – The director-general of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has rubbished assertions that the public no longer has faith in the anti-graft body and instead turn to the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) for their concerns to be handled with urgency.
Paulus Noa made these remarks during an interview with Nampa Tuesday in response to AR’s claim that they had taken over ACC’s mandate.
Founding member of the AR, Job Amupanda said in a media statement issued Tuesday the ACC is an “instrument in the hands of the elite”.
“Instead of reporting corruption to the ACC, most Namibians prefer to approach AR in order for their concerns to be taken seriously,” he said, adding that their legal team is busy creating its own anti-graft institution with the legal mandate and institutional capacity.
Noa, who has headed the institution since its inception in 2006, rebuffed claims that the public has lost trust in the ACC.
“As I am speaking to you now, the public are reporting corruption allegations to us. We are sitting with piles of reports. The public has confidence in the ACC,” he said confidently.
According to Noa, the ACC, alongside the Namibian Police Force, are the only two agencies where corruption related matters can be reported to.
“The ACC has powers to act on corruption. There are defined corruption offenses and the same law gives the ACC powers to carry out investigations,” he said.
Noa further said the AR and its proponents have the right to air their views as per the constitutional provision.
“AR is just something like a movement or something, while the ACC is operating in terms an Act of Parliament’s two houses,” he noted.
Noa added that like any other institution or individual, the ACC is open to receiving reports on corruption from AR.
The ACC’s mandate is to investigate allegations of corrupt practices, educate the public on the evils of corruption and to prevent corruption.
Meanwhile, the AR called on all its activists to continue fighting, investigating and exposing corruption while the movement sets up the framework to assist them.
This anti-graft institution, the AR said, will deal with prosecutorial and litigation matters that relate to social justice, economic freedom, governance and transparency.

NAMPA