Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament, Inna Hengari, has proposed the establishment of a vetting committee to scrutinise individuals nominated for the positions of Director-General and Deputy Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Hengari, who was speaking during the debate of the motion on the direction of the appointment, is of the opinion that more names be submitted for the National Assembly to make a decision.

"It is entirely up to the President to say I'm submitting two names, so I'm submitting three names to Parliament to appoint these individuals, but the appointing authority lies with Parliament. So I think this question needs to be asked from an introspective perspective. Can we say as Parliament, as a Parliament, as an August House, as a law-making institution that we are in a position or in a place to actually appoint or exercise this particular authority that is offered to us in this particular provision? And I think the answer is no."

Hengari added there are administrative and institutional issues in the ACC that can be addressed by the National Assembly to contribute to the efficient functionality of the institution.

Nudo MP Vetaruhe Kandorozu suggested that the ACC top leaders should have a legal background.

"People to be selected must be a magistrate or a judge, someone with a background, with a legal background, so that after the term, he or she can go back to the bench and continue operating. Because of the current status quo, we fear that at times, this top team connives with perpetrators of corruption. And as a result, their cases are always kept underground. Or the response that we are getting is they are cleared from any allegations."

Other MPs also made their contributions.

"This commission is supposed to serve Namibia as an independent commission, but unfortunately since the establishment of this commission, it's not independent. The Director General reports to the sitting president. The appointment of the Director General and the deputy or the second in command whatsoever should be done by the parliament," said NDP MP, Martin Lukato.

Iipumbu Shiimi, Swapo Party MP, said, "In many cases, including the appointment of our key positions, it's only one organ of the state that is involved. In this case we have two organs of state. Why? Because we want to ensure that this process is watertight. Therefore, it is important to recognise that our laws and our constitution have already made provision for that."

The debate has been postponed to the 7th of October.