Members of parliament this week started scrutinizing findings of the Public Accounts Committee on the Auditor General’s report. One of the recommendations by the MPs is for the National Public Prosecution Authority to prosecute officials involved in malpractices that have led to the government losing billions of public funds.

It was observed that most of the money was lost through public tenders that were not given in accordance with the law. In September, MPs adopted a new draft law governing public procurement that was meant to strengthen accountability and reduce loss of public funds.

The new law was also meant to be in conformity with advancement in technology because corruption is getting more sophisticated and the government wanted to devise more efficient ways of fighting it as the culprits have conceived sophisticated ways to thrive.

Although many reports have shown that Rwanda has minimal levels of corruption compared to other countries globally, institutions charged with investigating and prosecuting officials accused of misusing public resources should be relentless in pursuing anyone who commits such offences.

Also efforts against graft should be embraced across all the sectors and supported by all citizens and stakeholders to ensure maximum impact.

Corruption is a cancer that ruins nations and every Rwandan has a duty to not only steer clear of the vice but to also actively support anti-corruption measures, including reporting graft cases.

Furthermore, Leaders and all stakeholders should keep the momentum through sensitisation of people on the dangers of corruption starting at the grassroots level. People should know that getting a service is their right and should not pay anything to get a service from any government official.