There is renewed momentum to tackle corruption in high places in Rwanda. The Prosecutor-General has lately been sounding warnings to corrupt officials, particularly putting the so-called ‘Big Fish’ on notice. Last week, he told this newspaper that nearly 30 public institutions were under investigation over graft. The National Public Prosecution Authority is acting on the findings of the Auditor General’s Office. The latter has continuously cited suspected embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds in its annual reports and has often complained of lack of action on these reports to ensure that culprits are brought to book. While the government’s political will to tackle corruption has never been in doubt, there has sometimes been a feeling that senior officials are not always held to account as much as the rank and file. Prosecuting authorities have often cited the high level of sophistication in which senior officials commit fraud as the main impediment to accountability. Yet, as President Paul Kagame has repeatedly said, Rwanda cannot afford to go down the path of corruption. Graft is bad for any country, but it’s even worse for economies like Rwanda that are playing catch-up. Like they say, where there is a will, there is a way. And there are positive trends that have started to emerge. One of them is the fact that more people are today willing to step forward to report fraud. The remaining hurdle as far as whistle blowing is concerned is for those blowing the whistle to gather courage to record statements or even testify in a court of law. The law on whistleblowers protects anyone willing to volunteer information related to fraud. For instance, such a person can record a statement and appear in court under a pseudonym and in camera. Doing so boosts the chances of securing convictions for the culprits and saving taxpayers’ money. Anyone can blow the whistle. From employees in a certain institution to consultants and contractors or service providers, whoever is privy to valuable information that can lead to the prosecution of those abusing public trust by misappropriating or misusing public resources should not hesitate to blow the whistle – and to facilitate the relevant authorities to secure evidence for presentation in court. Meanwhile, the justice sector should devise strategies on how best to raise public awareness on the need for collective action against this cancerous vice and to encourage more people to blow the whistle when they detect corruption.
