Improving service delivery through fighting graft

The fight against corruption in the private and public sectors has always been challenge everywhere. Programmes put in place by the government, the private sector and civil society organizations to fight corruption, speaks volumes about the commitment that has been lent to the fight against graft. The chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda (TI-Rw), Marie Immaculee Ingabire says that corruption is a hard disease to eliminate.“What really makes it hard is that the two parties involved, for example in case of bribery, the one bribing might be urgently in need of a service while the receiver needs the money too,” says Ingabire. She adds that, “These two people are quite aware that in case things backfire, they are both liable to punishment according to the law.”She explains that this mutually beneficial situation creates a bond or pact of secrecy between the two parties. Ingabire further notes that as soon as one pays a bribe for a service he or she is entitled to, that makes the beginning of a great mistake.“From that time, such a person will never get that same service unless he or she pays a bribe and that will turn out to be the normal way to get that service.” This year` s recognition of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) that came up with best programmes to promote good governance saw TI-Rw ranked best, during the event Ingabire pointed out that catching corrupt officials needs a lot skills.The annual competition is organized by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB). This year, it attracted 13 non-profit organizations.It is aimed at encouraging CSO`s to effectively engage in the fight against corruption.Corruption has a direct negative effect on service delivery as the service provider deliberately engages in delaying tactics, to ensure that one in need of the service is forced to try any possible solution that might lead to paying a bribe.“When a local leader or any service provider gives a resident an appointment to meet in a bar, so that the two parties discuss the problem or challenge the resident is facing, of course the resident has to pay the bill,” says Ingabire.She further notes that, such an encounter is the first step service providers will engage in and at that point, and that the two are very free to talk about everything which opens the possibility of bribery.According to Ingabire, such people have a unique language that also complicates things further.Ingabire says that some people who want to get bribes use such language like “Why don’t you talk like a man…?” She explains that in most cases, people are not ready to report these cases something that prompted her organization to come up with suggestion boxes.“We realized that people are not ready to give us information especially concerning their local leaders and we decided to come up with our suggestion box where people give us information in a secret way and it really worked out according to the information we found in these boxes,” Ingabire says.The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RGB, Prof. Anastase Shyaka, says that there is need for partnership between private sector and the government in fighting corruption to improve service delivery.“What is needed is more effort not only by government but also CSO`s so as to have a vibrant force working towards a common goal,” Shyaka explains.He adds that his institution will engage more CSO`s in the competition to build their capacities in coming up with many other programmes of the kind.Among the groups that are more prone to corrupt tendencies, a re drivers/ motorists. These are commonly found in the habit of trying to bribe traffic police officers.Many reports indicate that such situations come as a result of either driving without proper documents or driving permits, overloading, over speeding and failure to go for motor vehicle inspection service and other issues.Many drivers The Sunday Times approached, were tight lipped and could not freely speak about the topic.“I can not bribe any police officer because I know that after that, I will be arrested and taken to the courts of laws,” says a taxi driver at Nyabugogo Taxi Park who only identified himself as Ivan.Ivan is very much aware of the many incidents where his colleagues have been netted. He however says that it is so unfortunate that some drivers have not realized the dangers of bribery.“In the first place, bribing a traffic officer is not solving a problem but extending or prolonging one and risking going to jail,” he said.