Niël Terblanché
Defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi has dismissed claims of corruption in the ministry’s procurement processes, stating that all acquisitions follow legal procedures and are subject to oversight.
Kapofi was responding to a question in Parliament from Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda.
Amupanda had raised concerns about the awarding of tenders and whether proper procedures had been followed in the procurement of surveillance equipment and related goods.
“There is no corruption in the procurement of surveillance equipment or any other procurement that is done through the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs,” said Kapofi.
He said the ministry follows the Public Procurement Act, Act No. 15 of 2015, which places the responsibility for large tenders with the Central Procurement Board of Namibia.
“All our large procurements are processed and handled by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia. This board operates independently, and the Ministry only serves as the user department,” he said.
Kapofi said confidentiality around defence operations should not be mistaken for secrecy or misconduct.
“Even where matters of national security are involved, the same procurement principles apply, with exceptions provided for by the law,” he said.
He said that allegations of corruption often stem from misunderstanding or misinformation.
“It is regrettable that some members of the public and politicians often make sweeping statements without providing any credible evidence to substantiate claims,” he said.
Kapofi also highlighted that the ministry undergoes regular internal and external audits, and institutions such as the Auditor-General’s Office are involved in reviewing its spending.
He encouraged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to report it.
“The ministry of defence and veterans affairs remains committed to acting within the confines of the law and stands ready to cooperate with investigative bodies,” he said.
He warned that baseless allegations can damage public trust in institutions.
“Accountability and transparency are central to how we manage public resources, but it is also important to avoid creating unnecessary fear and distrust based on unfounded accusations,” he said.
Kapofi concluded by stating that the ministry’s main responsibility is to protect the country’s sovereignty and serve its people.
“We do not and will not engage in practices that compromise that duty,” he said.
