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Namibia: Government Joyrides Must Be Stopped - ACC
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The Namibian (Windhoek)
30 April 2008
Posted to the web 30 April 2008
Denver Isaacs
Windhoek
A WEEKEND swoop on civil servants using Government vehicles without authorisation has led the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to recommend that guidelines and directives on vehicle use be reviewed.
A total of 229 vehicles were stopped between Friday and Saturday; 23 of them were impounded and 22 alleged transgressors were arrested.
A report by the ACC noted the frustration experienced by the Police in trying to enforce the law.
The most common problem experienced, according to the ACC report, was that passengers were not reflected on the trip authority documents handed to drivers when they were allocated cars.
"In most cases the passengers were either Government officials or working for the same ministry and after their identities were verified and it was confirmed that they worked for the concerned ministry, they were allowed to continue," it said.
Another problem was ministries issuing "open-ended" trip authorisations, which the ACC said caused difficulty in trying to establish whether a person was on an authorised trip.
The report complains of Namibian Defence Force (NDF) drivers who argued that they were not required to obtain trip authorisation within 60 km from their bases or offices.
"If this is the case then this practice is not consistent with Government policy," the ACC said.
The ACC said what was needed now is a clear, comprehensive Government policy document defining the duties and responsibilities of drivers of Government cars.
It also stressed the need for better control and supervision by transport and accounting officers over Government vehicles and their use.
Ministerial drivers, consultants and special advisors should have letters accompanying their trip authorisation which set out exactly the usage permitted, the commission said.
"The practice of general and wide-open ended trip authorisation should be avoided and the duties should be explained more precisely in order to restrict the driver from misusing the vehicle," the ACC stressed.
The two men additionally charged with drunken driving have been identified as NDF soldier Naftali Ananias (47) and Police officer Filemon Shivute (40).
Other officials arrested over the weekend include a Police officer and VIP driver to the Minister of Information, Hans Ashipala (42), a trade inspector in the Trade and Industry Ministry, George Mabakeng (35), and a chief clerk in the Ministry of Works, Louis Jermanus (32).
Police spokesperson Sergeant Stephan Nuuyi said yesterday that the operation was continuing, but no further arrests had been reported since the weekend.
The 22 people arrested over the weekend will return to court in July.
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Their bail was set at N$3 000 each.
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