Escalating oil prices and collusive behaviour amongst food suppliers have been pushing food prices to astronomical levels, making it increasingly difficult for many families to cope.

The State must make its stance on corruption clear to enable law enforcement agencies to function without political hindrance if we are to achieve a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption.
The arrest of the alleged kingpins, in the N$30 million Avid scam, who may have hoped to survive prosecution because of their ostensible political connections, is a case in point.
The seven people facing prosecution in connection with their alleged involvement in the Avid Investment Corporation investment scam in 2005 face 10 charges including counts of fraud, corruption and perjury, at a trial in the High Court.
The trial of the ‘Avid 7’ is a historical landmark in Namibia’s fight against corruption, because of the political connections of the kingpins – as the Social Security Commission (SCC) placed its N$30 million investment with an inexperienced company.
The trial of the ‘Avid 7’ saga should serve as a deterrent to those who think political office is a cushion to wrap up corrupt deals and to steal from the public purse.
It signals the political will, optimism and determination to recover public funds lost in several other dubious scams such as the N$100 million Offshore Development Corporation (ODC).
Ending corruption and abuse of public office by greedy politicians who consider themselves untouchable is on the horizon.
The plain-speaking Prosecutor General, Martha Imalwa, and her team deserve congratulations for their impartial decisions on such issues. Imalwa especially has survived the stigma of sceptics who opposed her appointment right from the start when she came into office.
While our neighbours across the Orange River are conspiring to shut the elite crime-busting agency, the Scorpions for taking on the big fish – current developments in our fight against elite crimes give reasons for optimism.
They show that President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s loud cry to recover hundreds of millions of dollars has not fallen on deaf ears and his campaign against corruption is bearing positive results.
Imalwa’s office even deserves more praise because she has managed to nab the big fish – a challenge that her counterpart, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Paulus Noah has failed to do while concentrating mainly on small-fry.
The question haunting many patriotic-minded Namibians is whether the purpose of creating the ACC was to protect the rich elite, while focusing mainly on petty crimes.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has leapfrogged the ACC – whose express purpose was to root out corruption and its manifestations from the heart and soul of our society.
Most political figures have been pushing the law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute suspects of corruption without carrying out proper investigations, and Imalwa should be lauded for fending off such pressures.
Her careful and considered approach of allowing law enforcement to carry out thorough investigations perhaps better demonstrates a serious intent to combat corruption than mere bluster.