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(NYASATIMES) Corruption still rampant in Malawi –rights body

Corruption still rampant in Malawi –rights body
10 February, 2009 10:49:00

The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) says it strongly feel that a lot more still needs to be done to stamp out corruption in Malawi and has called for strengthening of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB).

CHRR executive director Undule Mwakasungula said while his body welcomes the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy they want the fight against graft not to be discriminatory and that there should be no sacred cows in government.

“Developing a strategy to combat corruption is one thing while implementation of the strategy is another. While we agree with the President, Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika, that it is the duty of every citizen to fight corruption, but we feel that the fight against corruption must start from within the government structure,” said CHRR head in a statement.

The rights campaigners expressed frustration that despite all the hype about the Zero Tolerance approach, corruption is still very rampant in Malawi.

“So far, stories of the 'big fish' arrested on allegation of corruption have not gone beyond having them released on bail. If this is the scenario, are we really serious about fighting this malpractice?

“We at CHRR have also not been impressed by the reluctance by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to prosecute cases involving senior government and other officials suspected of getting involved in corruption.”

The rights body said it strongly feels that unless the ACB and, in particular, leaders, both at national and local levels, completely put a stop to the regrettable trend of enforcing the law selectively against certain members of the society while shielding others from the same, the battle against corruption will never be won in this country.

“We strongly feel that in order for corruption to be completely stamped out in our country, there is a great need for a great deal of consistent and undivided political will on the part of our leaders at all levels of our society,” said the statement CHRR said Malawi needs to strengthen ACB by providing it with adequate human and financial resources.

“We also feel that Section 95 of the Penal Code (2003), which requires the ACB to seek the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to send a case for prosecution, should be scrapped. In our view, the requirement not only contributes to institutional bottlenecks that limit the operation of the ACB but also leads to bias in prosecutions,” said the statement e-mailed to Nyasa Times.

CHRR said it shares the sentiments of the Law Commission that the prosecution of corruption cases should take place without the consent of the DPP, since the DPP has on several occasions been reluctant to give consent in cases involving high-profile personalities, particularly government officials.

“We at CHRR strongly feel that failure to make these reforms reinforces the public perception that the ACB is a tool for political witch-hunting and chastising the opposition.”

CHRR said corruption threatens democracy as well as socio-economic development.

“If in the next five years, the country continues to find itself among the world's most corrupt nations; indeed, if the country fails to develop due to corruption, we will only have ourselves to blame for paying lip service to the fight against corruption,” said CHRR.

President Mutharika recently admitted that the vice was still a major problem in the country but noted that steps were being taken to reduce the malpractice.

Labels: CORRUPTION, MALAWI

posted by MrK @ 8:14 PM