Fighting corruption: We have done well but we can do better

The zero tolerance to corruption which many Rwandans have come to identify with is becoming a reality in Rwanda. According to a recent report by the global corruption watch-dog Transparency International, the country ranks first in the East African Community sub-region, fifth on the continent and 51st globally. Observers attribute the ranking to the focus on accountability at all levels of government in particular, and a general political will in the country that ensures that corruption is fought tooth and nail, an environment that has benefited from the commitment. They also point out that, more than anything else, it is this commitment to fighting corruption that has had a positive contribution towards the improved outcomes in people’s lives as resources are channeled towards the public good. Close examination reveals that corruption has been wiped out of the health and education sectors, for instance. In education, the management and provision of bursaries and admissions to government schools as well as in the areas of public procurement have seen vast improvement in transparency. The introduction of health insurance cover to a large population, central procurements for drugs and effective monitoring systems of health services have partially contributed to the gains While these sectors provide an insight into improvements in systems of accountability and transparency, they are simply indicative of the general trends in the management of public institutions. However, this is not to suggest that all is well in regards to corruption. The same report points to Concerns in the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) and, in local government, which conforms with recent reports by the Rwanda Governance Board whose study suggests poor service delivery that is likely due to elements of corruption. Thus, while strong systems have been put in place and while there is evidence that they have brought remarkable achievements, some individual managers in a number of institutions, such as procurement officers, internal auditors, and members of internal tender committees, are undermining efforts to uproot corruption in public institutions It is obvious, therefore, that mechanisms alone cannot uproot the vice of corruption. More emphasis will have to be placed on monitoring systems to ensure compliance with said mechanisms. A combination of such is likely to produce even more positive results, especially now that the country has a regional outlook with ambitions to increase regional trade and spur local development. It appears that internal improvements combined with the harmonisation of the regional leadership code of conduct, public procurement systems, and the enforcement of existing anti-corruption laws are what is needed in sustaining the fight against corruption. With that, the internal improvements in service delivery as well as the present drive towards enhanced involvement of ordinary citizens in development programmes bode well for Rwanda’s future It has been noted elsewhere that trust is an important ingredient in the war on corruption. As such, it is worth insisting that by engaging citizens to demand for accountability, a culture is built that encourages them to report incidences of corruption, particularly when such citizen engagement results in action against corrupt officials. It is an engagement that is likely to enhance the trust that citizens have for their institutions and towards their government. The writer is a policy analyst based in Kigali

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Fighting corruption: We have done well but we can do better