Staff Reporter
THE Namibian President, Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, today launched the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Namibia Country Report which scrutinises governance structures in the Namibian government, identifies loopholes, and provides solutions.
The review report identified four cross-cutting issues which are persistent and recurring in nature in Namibia’s governance structures, which were identified as Decentralisation, Land Reform, Corruption, and Implementation Issues of government policies.
Amongst many things, the report identified access to and ownership of land as a national security, financial, and development issue that the government needs to address as a priority. The report identified a gap between the yearnings for and the actual pace of decentralisation in Namibia, with regional councils being unable to unquestionably demonstrate their capacity to administer the delegated functions.
Touching on corruption, the report said that institutions such as the ACC, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Office of the Auditor General are not empowered enough to fight corruption and administrative malpractices in the public service.
Mbumba explained that the launch of the Report is a clear testimony of the Namibian government’s commitment to enhancing the country’s governance architecture by strengthening processes, systems, and institutions as a means of delivering socio-economic development.
“The APRM mandate is aimed at ensuring that the policies and practices of participating African Union Member States are in conformity with the agreed political, economic, and corporate governance values, codes, and standards, so as to achieve the objectives of the mutually agreed-upon development Agenda 2063. Since Namibia’s accession to the Mechanism, in January 2017, we have established national structures which include a diverse 13-member National Governing Council under the leadership of Amb. Wilfried Emvula, to serve for a period of three (3) years, with a clear mandate to provide strategic policy guidance on the APRM country processes,” Mbumba said.
He further mentioned that additionally, Ambassador Lineekela Mboti was appointed Focal Point and Chief Executive Officer to lead the National Secretariat, coordinating APRM activities in the country.
“In September 2020, the National Governing Council commenced the Country Self-Assessment Report, which paved the way for the APRM to conduct a fully-fledged Peer Review of the Republic of Namibia in 2021. In this context, I would like to thank the University of Namibia for conducting a credible Country Self-Assessment Report, which was a critical component in the country’s preparedness to conduct the full Base Review Report,” Mbumba said.
The President added that importantly, in November 2021, the APRM Continental Secretariat conducted a review mission to Namibia, where discussions were carried out in a frank and open manner that reflected the diversity of views in our democratic society.
“The aforementioned processes have enabled Namibia to make tangible progress in mainstreaming the APRM into its governance architecture; having completed the Targeted Review Report on Youth Unemployment and the Country Review Report since accession to the Mechanism in 2017. I would like to commend the outgoing Board of the National Governing Council for their commitment and dedication to the work of the APRM in the country, as well as Amb. Ombeni Sefue, the then lead panel member for Namibia, and his team for producing the first Country Review Report of Namibia. While launching the Country Review Report is important, the measure of success will be how Namibia effectively integrates the recommendations of the Country Review Report into existing sectoral strategies and Plans. I therefore welcome the initiative by the Continental Secretariat to mobilise funding towards augmenting national resources in the implementation of the National Plan of Action,” Mbumba said.
He, in addition, said that the Government will consider the possibility of establishing a permanent National Secretariat to continue coordinating APRM activities and programmes in the country, thereby ensuring the full implementation of the National Plan of Action.
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