Debmarine revives skills development training
Increase ACC investigations budget - Katjavivi
National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi has appealed to the government to increase the Anti-Corruption Commission investigations division’s yearly funding, saying N$3.4 million earmarked towards investigations is insufficient.
Motivating the ACC’s 2023/24 financial year budget allocation of N$81 688 000 in the NA on Friday, Katjavivi said the main investigations division is allocated N$29 774 000, of which only 11% is geared towards carrying out investigations.
He said out of the N$29 774 000, 87% which is N$25 874 000 is estimated for remuneration and related expenditures, while only 11% which is N$3 400 000 goes towards investigations.
“This main division is one the crucial components of the commission and we all know how expensive and cumbersome the process of investigations can be. I, therefore, appeal that we look at how best we can fund ACC in order for it to allocate more resources to this main division,” he said.
Katjavivi said the 11% also caters for annual fees and consultancy service investigations where specialised expertise and skills are required, noting that apart from the investigations in the fishing sector commonly referred to as ‘Fishrot’ there are eight other ongoing high-profile cases that are being investigated and require specialised experts.
He indicated that priority is given to the high-profile cases for further investigations during the 2023/24 FY, stressing that it is crucial that the high-profile cases are prioritised as they have the potential to undermine the country’s commercial and financial interest which can cause huge potential financial loss to the country.
Katjavivi further said that the office of the director general received N$4 207 000, while the administration division received N$29 790 000; and the public education and corruption prevention received an amount of N$15 036 000. The security and risk management division received an amount of N$2 881 000.
“The impact of corruption is severe if it is allowed to persist. It impacts negatively economic growth, healthcare, and social and economic infrastructure development. Foreign investors may not invest in Namibia if ACC is not financially empowered to curb corruption and related crimes,” he noted.
Following severe setbacks suffered at training centres for skills development in Keetmanshoop due to the effects of Covid-19, Debmarine Namibia recently came on board, donating equipment valued at approximately N$200 000.
The equipment, consisting of computers, stoves, refrigerators and sewing machines were handed over on Tuesday in the southern town to the Women Action for Development (WAD) and Multipurpose Youth Resource centres.
This donation came as a result of an intervention from the office of //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick.
She said they are optimistic that the donation will strengthen the relationship between her office and Debmarine in future, enabling the granting of more such assistance when needed.
“To all beneficiaries, I hope that you will cherish this excellent learning environment made possible today and work hard to gain more knowledge and skills in order to contribute towards the development of our region and the country at large,’’ she urged the students present.
Also speaking at the event, WAD centre administration officer, Patrick Jossob, on behalf of the students, expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude towards Debmarine for their noble deed.
“These information communication technology, hospitality and tailoring equipment we received today will definitely boost our training programmes to the next level,’’
he assured.
Jossob also called on the community of Keetmanshoop and the region as a whole to actively participate in the training opportunities presented at the WAD centre to gain much needed knowledge and empower themselves in their strive to become self-sufficient, productive citizens.