When it comes to fighting corruption, appeasing public opinion is like swimming against the current, not only is it tiring, but one risks the possibility of hurtling against debris floating downstream. Whenever the Office of the Ombudsman publishes the list of shame, some sections of the public complain that it is only the small fish that are caught while the kingpins go scot-free. But that goes contrary to what has been reported in the news lately, where some high profile government officials have appeared before court to answer charges of alleged corruption and abuse of office. So, despite the shortcomings, it is undeniable that Rwanda has wasted no efforts in curbing corruption and sending the message that there is a red line one cannot cross without consequences. Some of the most corrupt countries have some of the best and comprehensive anti-corruption laws and tools, but it is their weaknesses in implementing them as well as the sacred-cow mentality that is their undoing. Rwanda realized early on that it was fighting a war on many fronts and could not afford distraction brought about by impunity; that is what had brought this country to its knees in 1994. So, when today we see it being feted for fighting corruption, the question that quickly comes to mind is: “Why should someone be praised for doing what they should be doing in the first place”? Anyway, it is not a coincidence that the fourth edition of the International Anti-Corruption Excellence (ACE) Award summit is being brought to Kigali in early December; there are some lessons to learn here.
