Private sector holds power to fight corruption – IPPR
In an Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) paper released last week, titled ‘The role of the private sector in tackling corruption’, local academic, Johan Coetzee, noted that because of the contraction of the local economy since the second quarter of 2016, it can be deduced that the private sector is feeling relatively insecure about future business prospects. “There is insecurity about, for example, the level of government spending, its exposure to foreign debt, ability to repay its debt, its cash flow situation and the credit down gradings by Moody’s and Fitch Ratings.
Corruption perception hurting Namibia-IPPR
Perceptions that Namibian leaders are corrupt are hurting the country’s development trajectory, the Institute for Public Policy Research(IPPR) has said.
In 2017, the Transparency International (TI)’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranked Namibia as the fourth least corrupt country in Africa. This ranking was however questioned by Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) senior lecturer, Dr. Johan Coetzee during a presentation and panel discussion held by IPPR this week.
Coetzee during his presentation on the role of the private sector in tackling corruption noted that corruption is a social ill and Namibia fails when it comes to it. Over the past 10 years the country has only managed to reach an average of 4.8 out of 10 when it comes to corruption transparency.
Researcher suggests ACC becomes autonomous body to fight corruption more effectively
A researcher at the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), wants the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), to become an autonomous body to fight corruption more effectively.
In addition Johan Coetzee says retired judges should form part of the structures of their oversight body, which scrutinises cases recommended for prosecution.
Business Index Breaches 50 Point Mark
The IJG Business Climate Monitor improved to 50.99 points in February, the Institute of Public Policy Research said this week.
This is the first time since December 2016 that the index has been above the 50-point mark.
The leading indicator also showed improvement, climbing to 46.7 points.
“The improvement in the index indicates that the economy is slowly recovering, and should this persist, signals a return to growth in 2018 after the contraction experienced in 2017,” the institute said.
Most Namibians condemn wife beating
While a majority of Namibians say nothing justifies a man beating a woman, men and rural communities are more prone to hold the belief that a beating is sometimes justified.
The latest Afrobarometer results released by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that 84% of Namibians believe it is never justified for a man to beat his wife.
Most Namibians also believe that the government is waging a robust and effective war against gender-based violence, according to the survey.
Consider the Environment in Town Planning and Housing Developments – IPPR
Edgar Brandt Windhoek-Government, including regional and local authorities, needs to ensure that urban building standards and town planning regulations enable and incentivise integrated, flexible, cost-effective and sustainable housing developments. This is according to a report released this week by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), titled ‘Housing in Namibia: Rights, Challenges and Opportunities’. The report, compiled by IPPR research associates, Pauline Ndhlovu and Dietrich Remmert, recommends clear certification processes and concise regulations in place to promote the use of alternative construction materials and methods.
Gaps in the Human Trafficking Bill
Government’s efforts to finalise a combating of trafficking in persons law, in line with its stated objective to improve efforts to combat human trafficking in Namibia, is a step in the right direction.
The latest issue of ‘Perspectives on Parliament’, a regular bulletin by the Democracy project of the Institute of Public Policy (IPPR) noted that “despite its shortcomings, the Bill represents a step forward in fighting human trafficking in Namibia”.
Housing Crisis – IPPR Calls for a National Integrated Spatial Planning Framework
The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) called on government to develop a national integrated spatial planning framework, coupled with the devolution of specific town planning powers to lower levels of government.
According to IPPR this would present an extraordinary opportunity to review and restructure the existing regulatory framework around housing and urban land.
This was highlighted in a IPPR recently published a report by its research associates, Dietrich Remmert and Pauline Ndhlovu: ‘Housing in Namibia- Rights, Challenges and Opportunities’ which takes a look at the surrounding issues and inefficiencies in the way of affordable and adequate housing for the majority of Namibia.
‘More talk than action on corruption’
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) director, Graham Hopwood, says “there seems to be more talk than action on corruption in Namibia” and “when action is taken it can often be delayed or ineffective”.
He also said it is his perception that large sections of the public have lost faith in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Hopwood was responding to the recently released 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in which Namibia ranked 53rd out of 180 countries globally and fifth in Africa.
Transparency International (TI) has published the CPI since 1996, annually ranking countries “by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys”.
The CPI generally defines corruption as “the misuse of public power for private benefit”.
No public participation on Nam budget – survey
NAMIBIA does not provide members of the pubic opportunities to participate in the budget-making process as compared with other countries in the region, the latest Open Budget Survey 2017 has found.
The Open Budget Index (OBI) is the world’s only independent and comparative measure of central government budget transparency. It assessed the degree to which the government provides opportunities for the public to engage in the budget-making process.
