Tobie Aupindi, who was found guilty on a charge under the Anti-Corruption Act two years ago, says he is not corrupt and nothing should stop him from being part of the legislature. Aupindi, one of the 104 lawmakers sworn in as members of the National Assembly last week, said he had his day in court, paid a fine and life should go on. Landless People’s Movement (LPM) chief change campaigner (CCC) Bernadus Swartbooi recently took a swipe at Aupindi’s inclusion in Parliament. “The Legislature is a hoax. It’s a pathetic place. SWAPO does not take this country and its people seriously. I don’t know when some Namibians will recognise this very fact,” he vented. Swartbooi wants MPs convicted of serious crimes such as corruption, theft or murder never to set foot in the National Assembly “as the nexus between politics and criminals are getting worse”. Aupindi, however, maintained in an interview with NAMPA: “I’m not [corrupt]. I fought corruption for many, many years in different capacities as a corporate leader and I support every effort that’s out there.” His conviction, he said, was not an actual act of corruption, “but a conviction on obstruction of justice under the minor charges. It’s a similar charge to you telling an officer that you were not speeding. Right now, what I do, I am a law-abiding person just trying to share my knowledge and skills in my effort in ensuring that our country continues to achieve total economic emancipation”. Aupindi was sentenced to a fine of N$50 000 or 30 months’ imprisonment in 2018. He paid the fine. He went on to further say that if the Namibian Constitution does not prevent him from being a lawmaker, then no amount of public outcry, media reports and criticism can. This he said in response to allegations from opposition politicians that SWAPO recycles and rewards the corrupt. “We [SWAPO] are the ones who even brought about the Anti-Corruption Act. No one can, therefore, take the credit from SWAPO. In fact, the voices that they are speaking on is based on the fundamental freedom and bill of rights that SWAPO brought about,” Aupindi dismissed. -NAMPA