By Victor Angula |
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) wants Namibia to be classified as a country with “strategic deficiencies” in the administration of financial transactions within and across its borders.
In a statement released by the party’s acting national spokesperson Mr Eneas Emvula, LPM expresses great dissatisfaction with the administration of justice and the “contravention of a democratic Constitution.”
“LPM has it on record that there are attempts from within the state security machinery to have over the 465 days-old Fishrot docket disappear,” Emvula says.
“The way the protracted Fishrot trial has played out and the ultimate eroding of democratic principles in the country by the Judiciary arm of the state and under instructions of the Executive, to influence and undermine the administration of the law – National Council, Keetmanshoop magistrate case, illegal indefinite banning of two duly elected MPs from National Assembly; denial of president Geingob that corruption in Namibia is not institutionalized; are but some of the reference cases – leaving LPM Leadership with no other choice than the call on the international community to place Namibia on the “Grey List” of countries with strategic deficiencies in their administration of Financial lntelligence Unit (Fraud) and contravention of a democratic Constitution.
“Namibia falls within the 200 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) watchdog jurisdiction of countries that have globally committed to curbing money laundering. Thus, placing Namibia on a ‘Grey List’ ensures that the country commits to swiftly resolve identified strategic deficiencies within an agreeable timeframe and subjects Namibia to increased monitoring.
“As an alternative opposition party, LPM unapologetically welcomes the instituted travel ban of the two incarcerated ex-ministers by the US over the acceptance of bribes as announced on June 15, 2021.”
When questioned by Omutumwa if it is justifiable for the party to criticise the Judiciary, which is considered the holy cow of a democratic society, Emvula replies that LPM has no issue with the Office of the Chief Justice but only with the individual occupying the office.
“When it comes to Chief Justice Shivute personally, we have no confidence. Obviously we have no confidence in him as an individual. And it’s not because we don’t like him; or maybe we don’t.2 There is no way that we can have confidence in a person, as an individual, the confidence should be in the system and conduct of the incumbent with society’s expectation for him to stand by the ethics and follow what the law says.”
In the photo: The Supreme Court, Namibia’s ivory tower of justice.
