Exploring factors leading to the reluctance in whistleblowing by public members: A study of Ministry of Justice, Windhoek

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors leading to the reluctance of public members in engaging in whistle-blowing. The study adopted the pragmatism world view, which was implemented through the sequential explanatory design. Further, the study adopted a sequential mixed methodology in the collection, analyzation and interpretation in answering research questions. The population of Complaints Investigating and Legal Officers who were respondents of the study was one hundred and forty-six, which was sampled through the random sampling for quantitative sample and purposive sampling for qualitative sample. Quantitative data were collected using the closed ended questionnaire from fifteen respondents while qualitative data were collected using an interview guide by way of face-to-face interviews with five participants. Quantitative data was analysed using Microsoft Excel while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The study revealed that among a number of issues related to the reluctance in whistle-blowing are a lack of compensations, fear of retaliation and defamations as well as lack of awareness and stakeholder engagement in the crafting and implementation of the Whistle-blowers protection act. The study therefore recommended that the government should conduct community engagement meetings in order to raise community awareness on whistle-blowing, compensate potential whistle-blowers in order to buy them in the practice of whistle-blowing. Additionally, the study recommended that the existing legislation on whistle-blowing be reviewed to accommodate all unfolding gaps.