Civil society urges Financial Intelligence Centre to widen checks to political parties, lawyers’ trust accounts

Tracy Tafirenyika, 2 October | The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has urged the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) to investigate not only civil society and churches but also the funding of political parties and the use of lawyers’ trust funds to channel proceeds of corruption.

IPPR executive director Graham Hopwood questioned the FIC’s focus on civil society and religious institutions.

“What I question is why the FIC places such a strong emphasis on scrutinising civil society and the churches when there are other sectors of Namibian society that would seem more prone to corruption and money laundering risks,” he says.

Hopwood says the financing of political parties remains a “very murky” area.

“Even lawyers who have used their trust funds to channel the proceeds of corruption should be investigated.”
Hopwood noted: “The IPPR doesn’t have a problem complying with the FIC’s stipulations because we believe organisations should be run in an accountable and transparent manner.”

His remarks follow on an announcement from the FIC this week that churches and other non-profit organisations operating in Namibia must state and provide proof of their funding and file annual returns every 12 months – or risk action from the FIC.

In enforcing the Financial Intelligence Act of 2012, the FIC also requires evidence that the money received by churches and other non-profit organisations is fully accounted for and used in a manner consistent with the legitimate mandates of these organisations.

This comes as part of the FIC’s efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing in the country.

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This article was first published in The Namibian on 2 October 2024 under the headline ‘Civil society urges Financial Intelligence Centre to widen checks to political parties, lawyers’ trust accounts’.