The anti-corruption week entered its third day, yesterday, with a call on the youth to help strengthen graft fight by reporting corruption cases encountered in the community. The message was delivered at a youth congress held in Remera, Kigali as part of activities of the anti-corruption week running from December 3-9, under the theme “Give your contribution, report corruption”. More than 70 youth leaders and representatives of anti-corruption clubs across the country attended the congress. Participants were briefed about corruption manifestations. These include bribery, embezzlement, favouritism, nepotism, fraud, sexual corruption, extortion, collusion, money laundering, and political corruption among others. Xavier Mbarubukeye, the Permanent secretary at the Office of the Ombudsman observed that youth are more vulnerable to corruption in one way or another while seeking for jobs or other services. He noted that the congress was supposed to help the Office of the Ombudsman cultivate the anti-graft spirit among the youth as the future leaders of the country. “We want our youth, comprising a big number of the population, to lead the anti- corruption battle by exhibiting discipline wherever they are. We ask them to report on each case they encounter while searching for jobs to ensure that those who are implicated in bribery get punished in conformity with the laws,” he argued. Geoffrey Gakumba, a representative of the National Youth Council in Kayonza District, said, after the forum, they would put more efforts in sensitising other youths to be more active in the fight and reporting of corruption. “We came up with a new commitment that as young people we should value and respect ourselves by fighting and refusing to be accomplices in corruption,” he said. Gakumba urged people in positions of power to avoid corruption since it affects their future. The Corruption Perception Index (CIP) 2015, produced by Transparency International, ranked Rwanda the least corrupt country in the region, fourth on African continent and 44th worldwide, with the report showing an improvement in the country’s per centage score from 49 to 54 per cent. The report showed that corruption remains rife and an issue of concern across the world and that poor countries lose $1 trillion a year to corruption, which calls for timely justice. Apart from meeting the youth leaders, during this 2016 anti-corruption week, the Office of the Ombudsman conducts radio and TV talkshows on the effects of corruption on development. It will also hold a dialogue with media practitioners, and religious institutions to bring them on board in the fight against corruption ahead of the December 9 celebration of international anti-corruption day. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
