The umbrella body of labour unions affiliated to the SWAPO party has called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to take active steps against corruption in Government and the state-owned enterprises. Recent corruption scandals which surfaced like the AVID loan scandal, with N$30 million missing and the N$100 million which have disappeared from the Offshore Development Company (ODC) and certain individuals implied called for action against the scourge of corruption union leaders told reporters on Thursday. Deputy secretary general Evirastus Kaaronda of the NUNW (National Union of Namibian Workers) said despite the promises made by President Pohamba in the public on several occasions to fight corruption, the NUNW was getting impatient and wanted to see actions, including the establishment of the envisaged anti-corruption commission.

"Money lost in the AVID scandal was from the Social Security Commission and it funds should benefit the workers, not corrupt individuals", Kaaronda said. The NUNW is also represented on the SWAPO central committee.

"If nobody takes action against corruption, we, the workers will", threatened John Kwedhi, president of the union representing workers in the transport sector, NATAU, affiliated to NUNW.

The unionists further demanded that Paulus Kapia should resign as Member of Parliament, since he was implicated in the AVID loan scandal. "Kapia’s continued presence there is insincere and dishonourable" Kaaronda noted. "We strongly urge Kapia to put party and national interests ahead of his own and quit the National Assembly", the NUNW leader stated.