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PRIME MINISTER DEFENDS ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION

NAMIBIA: CORRUPTION/NBC/27/6/18 SABANews 1

Namibia Anti-Corruption Commission Offices (Pic. The Villager)

WINDHOEK – The Government of NAMIBIA has dismissed as false allegations that the Anti-Corruption Commission covers up activities involving members of the Executive.

Prime Minister SAARA KUUGONGELWA-AMATHILA says the Commission is accountable to the National Assembly and the Executive’s involvement in their operations.

Her comments come after an opposition POPULAR DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT member in the House tabled a motion questioning the credibility and impartiality of the Commission.

VIPUAKUJE MUHARUKUA says there is need to set up a Parliamentary Committee to look into the operations of the anti-graft body after alleging corruption is rampant in NAMIBIA.

His Party President, MCHENRY VENAANI, says corruption reports are widespread, yet there is little evidence of what is being done to curb the scourge.

However, Prime Minister KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA says the Government has introduced measures and strategies to end dishonesty.

She has addressed the House during continuation of the debate on the motion yesterday (TUESDAY) saying support for the Commission will help it fulfil its mandate successfully.

Information and Communication Technology Minister STANLEY SIMATAA says evidence, rather than perception, should be the basis of all allegations of corruption.

Corruption is a form of dishonesty undertaken by someone, or a group of people, entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit, and Sub-SAHARAN AFRICA has been a victim of the disease.

ONE study shows companies face a moderate risk of corruption in NAMIBIA because the country suffers from less dishonesty compared to others in the region, but the problems remains common.

It says the public procurement sector is particularly exposed due to the monopoly of State-owned companies.

The NAMIBIA Anti-Corruption Act is the primary law in the area, covering passive bribery, active bribery, attempted deceit, extortion and bribing a foreign public official./Sabanews/cam

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GERMANY FUNDS EDUCATION SECTOR THROUGH UNICEF

ZIMBABWE: FUNDING/SABANEWS/27/6/18 SABANews 1

UNICEF and Zimbabwean Government officials at handover ceremony (Pic. UNICEF)

HARARE – The education sector in ZIMBABWE has benefitted from another 15-MILLION euro from the Government of GERMANY under the UNICEF Education Development Fund.

The UN agency has released a statement saying the GERMAN money has come through the KfW Development Bank, which finances governments, public enterprises, and commercial banks.

The contribution to the SECOND Phase of the Education Development Fund aims to improve access to quality education for children in the SADC country, by strengthening the resilience of schools to external shocks.

GERMANY has been ONE of the major contributors since the inception of the Fund in 2010, with an overall engagement of 61-MILLION euro, after donating another 32-MILLION euro during the FIRST Phase (2011-2015).

It is providing 29-MILLION euro for the SECOND Phase (2016-2020), including the new grant, in an effort to help sustain the gains in the education sector against the challenging ZIMBABWEAN social and economic environment.

UNICEF Representative MOHAMED AYOYA says schemes under the GERMAN Funding are of a strategic nature; and are designed to achieve sustainable, system-wide impacts that benefit all children.

The activities have a particular focus on children who are most disadvantaged, and the funds will be used to support the School Improvement Grants.

The money covers school feeding and income generating activities, development of Disaster Risk Management strategies and policies, provision of reliable access to water and sanitation services, and implementation of the new curriculum.

UNICEF says the Education Development Fund will continue to support children with disabilities through the GERMAN support.

It provides WASH facilities and services to the most deprived learners as well as strengthens the resilience of school communities to impacts of climate change, including their capacity to respond to disasters and emergencies in an appropriate and timely manner.

UNICEF is leading the program in partnership with the Government of ZIMBABWE, with support from global partners including the governments of GERMANY and the UNITED KINGDOM as the main donors.

The SECOND Phase of the ZIMBABWE Education Development Fund from 2016 to 2020 focusses on improving equity and access to quality education, especially for marginalised children and others with disabilities./Sabanews/cam