Namibian Government’s Corruption Scandals Leave President Geingob’s Credibility in Shambles
Windhoek - A string of high-profile corruption scandals has left Namibian President Hage Geingob’s credibility in tatters, according to experts and analysts.
The SME Bank Scandal: A Recent Example of Government Corruption
The latest scandal to hit the government is the collapse of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bank, which was launched in 2011 with the help of Zimbabwean banker Enock Kamushinda. The bank’s sudden collapse has led to business closures and job losses, and a court investigation revealed that Kamushinda and his associates had looted hundreds of millions of Namibian dollars from the bank.
Fishrot Scandal: Another Blow to Geingob’s Credibility
In 2020, Geingob’s government was rocked by the Fishrot scandal, in which Benin-born businessman Adekpo Adjovi and his Côte d’Ivoire-based company were ordered to repay $1.5 million to the Namibian government.
Lack of Accountability: A Major Concern
Despite these scandals, no government officials or political figures have been held accountable for their role in facilitating corruption. Experts say this lack of accountability has eroded trust in political institutions and damaged Geingob’s credibility as a leader.
“High-profile corruption cases, such as Fishrot and the looting of the SME Bank under his watch have dented his credibility as a leader that could transform Namibian society for the better.”
- Rui Tyitende, University of Namibia political scientist
The Ruling Party’s Response: Insufficient?
The ruling Swapo party has tried to distance itself from these scandals, with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah being elected as the new vice president in November 2022. However, some critics argue that she has been a member of successive Swapo governments without speaking out against corruption.
“You know that feeling when you look at your parents or elders and think ’liars’,” said Namibia Institute for Democracy executive director Naita Hishoono. “You now just have that feeling of disappointment in your heroes.”
International Solutions to Corruption Challenges
Corruption experts believe that the solutions to Namibia’s political and economic corruption challenges lie internationally. Transparency International Iceland and Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) media statement called on authorities in several countries, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the Faroe Islands, to take all available steps to ensure that proceeds of crime are not entering their economies through Samherji’s international investments made using proceeds of its Namibian business.
“It is time for all stakeholders to prove their commitment to fighting corruption and bringing justice and reparation to the people of Namibia.”
- Frederico Links, a Namibian journalist and researcher who has been tracking these scandals.