Chizuma says prevention crucial in graft fight
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma says Malawi should focus on prevention and not just prosecution if the country is to win the fight against corruption.
Speaking on Monday when the ACB appeared before the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament to report on ef forts made in the fight against corruption as well as challenges, she called for a mindset change in the approach to corruption fight, saying it is every Malawian’s responsibility to promote and embrace corruption prevention.
Chizuma said: “If the country thinks we are going to prosecute our way out of corruption, we are mistaken. We have already seen challenges associated with law enforcement. The fight will be won if we can prevent corruption from happening.
“That will require a lot of things to be done. Major thing is mindset change at individual level, family level, community level and country level. We really need to change. We really need to say, if I was corrupt I will stop. If our community was used to corruption, we need to stop this because that is the only way we can deal with this.”
However, she said law enforcement is equally crucial as it helps to deter people from engaging in corruption.
On his part, Legal Affairs Committee chairperson Albert Mbawala said there is need to ensure that every institution is involved in corruption prevention. Malawi has been heavily affected by corruption, which has seen infrastructural projects stalling and the public being deprived of good services.
