AR MPs Back President’s ACC Nominations, Pledge Strong Parliamentary Oversight
Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Members of Parliament Honourable Vaino Hangula and Honourable Frederick Shitana have thrown their support behind President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s nominations of Dr. Bryan Eiseb as Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for 5 years while Advocate Erna van der Merwe to remain Deputy Director-General for an additional year.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate, both MPs said they supported the nominations but stressed that the appointments should mark the beginning of a stronger and more effective fight against corruption in Namibia.
The lawmakers emphasised that Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to oversee the work of the ACC and ensure that the Commission remains independent, transparent, and accountable.
Hangula noted that while the President had exercised her constitutional mandate in making the appointments, Members of Parliament would continue to scrutinise the Commission’s performance and hold it accountable if it failed to uphold the law.
Shitana echoed similar sentiments, saying supporting the nominations did not mean giving the ACC a free pass. He called for the Commission to act impartially and ensure that all corruption cases are investigated without fear or favour.
The extension of Advocate Erna Van der Merwe’s term was also welcomed, with Members saying her continued service would provide institutional memory and stability during the leadership transition.
As Parliament endorsed the nominations, MPs maintained that public confidence in the Anti-Corruption Commission would ultimately depend not on the appointments themselves, but on the institution’s ability to investigate corruption impartially, uphold the rule of law, and demonstrate tangible results.
