Namibia introduces mining office to avoid corruption

WINDHOEK - Namibia which is highly praised by Transparency International for its "clear government" and "good governance" has set up a mining commission office to ensure transparency in the bidding process for the country's mines which contributes 18 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP).

"You can not come up and take something which was not given to you. You have to report all the findings you find on the ground to the ministry. All the applications get through the mining office, the committee in the ministry will sit down to evaluate all the applications," said Minister of Mines and Energy Erkki Nghimtina in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday.

"After everything is assessed , it (the application) will be brought to the minister for signature, " said Nghimtina.

As for the anti-corruption efforts of the Namibian government, Nghimtina said President Hifikepunye Pohamba inaugurated an anti- corruption commission in the African country.

"Everybody understands the need of anti-corruption commission's function in Namibia. And in Namibia nowadays, if somebody is making some corruption, everybody is allowed to blow the whistle. Then the commission would come in to make a follow-up on whether it is true or not. If it is true, somebody would take it to the court, " Nghimtina said.