Aim higher in anti-graft fight – Ntawukuriryayo

The president of the Senate, Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, has appealed to the public to increase the vigour in their fight against corruption, describing the vice as a serious problem that could undermine everything the country has achieved. He was addressing a news conference to showcase the accomplishments of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in their third sessions.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

The president of the Senate, Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, has appealed to the public to increase the vigour in their fight against corruption, describing the vice as a serious problem that could undermine everything the country has achieved.

He was addressing a news conference to showcase the accomplishments of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in their third sessions.

Ntawukuriryayo’s remarks come in the wake of a report by global corruption watchdog Transparency International, which ranked the country 4th least corrupt in Africa and among the ‘clean’ countries in the world.

"We must aim the top spot globally; why should we settle for fourth in Africa?” he asked, calling on the public to redouble their efforts in the anti-graft campaign.

MP Adolphe Bazatoha said the newly established Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would play a significant role in fighting corruption.

"You cannot eliminate corruption completely because there are people who are naturally born corrupt and are never satisfied with what they have.”

"I think what is needed is to come up with new mechanisms such as PAC that was recently established in parliament to help address such issues,” added the lawmaker.

eric.kabeera@newtimes.co.rw