DTN research perspectives on corruption

METUSALEM NEIB WRITES:

Democracy Trust of Namibia (DTN) researching corruption is it does in the country that few elite’s officials deviate from the formal duties of a public role because of personal close family and private clique. Namibia is also regarded as a corrupted country. Corruption is a “term” carrying many different and complex interpretations. For the political science, a corruption is thus an important and highly relevant area of research. Corruption has negative effects on economic growth, institutional performance and the legitimacy of the political system.

Because corruption is such a contentions and often sensitive phenomenon and I focus on those acts of corruption that occur in the public sector, i.e., in cases where at least one party involved is a political or public servant. Doing so limits somewhat the scope of the research but the major reason for using this focus is that from a political science perspective, from which the negative effects of corruption are often seen to play a central role on political legitimacy and institutional performance.

Recognition of the importance of corruption within the political sphere is obviously not just a phenomenon. During the last two decades for example there has been extensive media coverage of corruption scandals in Namibia involving high - ranking politicians. Involving politicians and high officials, these scandals have had serious repercussions including in some cases at the (MPs and local government levels) resignation of the entire political leadership or administration management.

It is against this background that this research seeks to investigate corruption and generate more knowledge and understanding about the critical danger – points vulnerable in Namibia.

In public sector scrutiny of politics and power, corruption has only recently been an area for investigation. But research in political science has been rare or almost non – existent on the topic of corruption in Namibia. One of the inherent problems in corruption research is the inbuilt, secrecy of corrupt transactions, and therefore the lack of extensive and reliable empirical data.

Privatization has in some cases given opportunities for public officials to demands kickbacks.

Corruption is grouped into three different categories – petty, routines or aggravated corruption – depending on the incidence or serious of corruption. Petty corruption means that officials deviate from rules in minor ways for benefit of friends. Routine corruption is by gifts being accepted by officials or parties for found good will, nepotism practices found in official appointment and contract awarding, officials profiting from public decisions through clients pledging votes according to patron’s directions.

Aggravated corruption is by clients needing patron intervention to get administrative due process, gifts being expected by officials as prerequisite for extending due process, officials tolerating organized crimes in return for payoffs, activists suddenly changing party allegiance for pecuniary reasons and officials and citizens ignoring clear proof of corruption.

Bribe – giving is the crime of giver when he or she offers a bribe to employees who can make themselves guilty of bribe – taking. The bribe is an unwanted favor and does not need to be of economic value.

Many of cases involved misuses of public resources by public servants or politicians for the own benefits without the involvement of outside influence. About the cases concerned indirect transactions, indicating more unspecified transactions and tending to be of more collective character. More than half of those involved politicians, mainly in conflicts interest situations in regards to decision – making and political financing. In Namibia government transparency and openness have regarded as important mechanisms in avoiding misused of power and corruption, in strengthening external control through citizens and media awareness.

In Namibian perceptions a first part base on elites with wealth of country, well – off and the rich.

Then second part turn to perceptions of political actors on questions also including perceptions about the causes of corruptions and improprieties and measures to combat corruption.

Cultural explanation of corruption often starts from the fact some behaviour is regarded differently in different Namibia in the 14 regions of the country. Namibia corruption is seen as an illegal market mechanism in the allocation of resources mandated to the constitution and its democracy of country. Corruption in Namibia made it less developed and less democratic country. With many new forms of governance emerging, corruption studies are probably going to be a growing field of research in political science.