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RFA launches fraud and corruption prevention policy

Finances entrusted to the RFA should be used strictly for the intended purpose and be spent within budget and time frame.: Lipenga
Finances entrusted to the RFA should be used strictly for the intended purpose and be spent within budget and time frame.: Lipenga

Malawi’s Roads Fund Administration (RFA) on Friday launched fraud and corruption policy to promote a culture that is intolerant to fraud and corruption.

Speaking at the launch in the capital, Lilongwe acting chief executive officer Alexander Makhwala said the policy stipulates “zero tolerance for corruption” which is a statement to the employees, suppliers of works, goods and service to all stakeholders of the RFA.

“Our belief is that if we seek to enhance our integrity, professionalism and credibility of the utilisation of funds allocated for public roads, all our stakeholders will collaborate with us in the realisation of our common goal,” he explained.

The policy will also provide a framework upon which RFA will implement a range of measures to prevent and detect fraud and corruption in all activities.

He further said the management would develop and implement specific fraud and corruption prevention programmes and initiatives to ensure that appropriate controls are put in place to closely monitor fraud and corruption risk areas.

Officially opening the policy, Minister of Finance, Ken Lipenga said finances entrusted to the RFA should be used strictly for the intended purpose and be spent within budget and time frame.

“If the RFA fails to do that, it will be undermining our country’s development agenda. In this regard the theme for this policy, “Towards a Corruption and Fraud Free Roads Sector in Malawi” is the most appropriate for the RFA, because it underscores the need for all stakeholders dealing with the roads funds, either directly or indirectly,” Lipenga explained.

The chairperson of RFA, George Partridge said the launch of the policy was a defining moment in the war against corruption in the sector.

The survey revealed that corruption is higher in the construction sector than in any other sector of any economy.

“Studies showed that this resulted in poor road infrastructures in most of the countries in the African continent despite the huge amounts of dollars that have been poured into infrastructure projects over the years,” he said.

Partridge, however, said the industry is vulnerable to corruption because of the size, complexity and huge cost of most of the construction projects.

“The other reasons include; weaknesses and loopholes that exist in the entire project cycle from planning and designing, to procurement and implementation and the weak governance structures of implementing agencies,” he explained.

Patridge said in support of this uncompromising stand on corruption, in 2009, the RFA became an active member of the Business Action Against Corruption (BAAC) and a subscriber to Deloitte’s Tip-Offs Anonymous Hotline service.

In his remarks, the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Justice Rizine Mzikamanda said the cost of corruption in road sector can be a death trap as a result of road accidents.

“Corruption has a potential to collapse our road network; frequent and never ending potholes and maintenance on fairly new roads and bridges signify substandard work. These also reduce the lifespan of our roads,” Mzikamanda said.

He pointed out that proper road network would enhance economic growth adding that if the country needs to move forward, there is need to control hike construction costs of poor road construction standards.

He urged the stakeholders to join the fight against corruption to save scarce and limited resources being provided by the taxpayers and donor partners.

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