ACB needs more govt support—Mzikamanda

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says for the institution to work successfully it needs increased financial support from government.

ACB director Justice Rizine Mzikamanda said this in Lilongwe on Friday during the launch of the Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy for the Roads Fund Administration (RFA).

Mzikamanda said the bureau is doing all it can to fulfil its mandate of fighting corruption, but lack of resources is frustrating its efforts.

“We are witnessing some of the efforts that the bureau is doing to prevent the occurrence of corruption in the road sector. Initiatives such as these require increased financial support from government. You will bear testimony to the fact that the bureau is not simply sitting but is making every effort in fulfilling its mandate of leading the fight against corruption but increased financial allocations will greatly help,” he said.

On corruption in the road construction sector, Nzikamanda said the problem is huge and bigger than people believe.

“In one of the workshops conducted by the bureau in Zomba, participants identified road compensation as one of the high risk areas prone to fraud and corruption. Overvaluing and undervaluing of property, inclusion of ghost beneficiaries and structures were given as examples of malpractices,” he said.

Minister of Finance Ken Lipenga said for a body that administers billions of kwacha, RFA has an obligation to use the resources prudently.

“I thank the Road Fund Administration for launching the corruption policy because it administers annual road infrastructure budget of at least K20 billion. The government can ill-afford to ignore any inefficiency in the management and utilisation of the scarce and constrained resources,” said Lipenga.

RFA board chairperson George Partridge said widespread corruption in the construction industry is one of the factors contributing to poor road infrastructure in most African countries.

According to Partridge, the policy demonstrates the commitment of the board and management of the institution to high ethical and professional behaviour.