Corruption is now rife in Malawi – Jumbe
Former Finance Minister and now president of the New Labour Party (NLP) Friday Jumbe says corruption has became endemic in Malawi, accusing President Joyce Banda and her government of failing to show real vigour to fight graft.
According to Jumbe, who ironically has also a running corruption case in the courts, says corruption is worsening particularly in the public service where he said it is almost impossible to get a service without giving a bribe.
“Corruption is getting worse every day and I am afraid we may reach a point where corruption levels will be beyond description. Is that what we want? What worries me more is the fight against corruption is not there anymore,” Jumbe is quotd by the Daily Times on Tuesday.
According to Jumbe the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) which is mandated to lead the war against corruption remains toothless and continues to be used to silence political opponents and not public officials who are denying the public access to services.
“To get a passport you have to buy your way, to get a driving license you have to buy your way, to drive your car from here to Lilongwe, you have to buy your way, to go to an office in Lilongwe to obtain a business license you have to buy your way. Everything is going under and i am worried,” he said.
Minister of Information and Civic Education Moses Kunkuyu said the current government has made efforts to end the malpractice.
But the daily said in its editorial comment that Jumbe’s claims that corruption has reached alarming levels should neither be dismissed nor taken for mere political statement by another politician.
Another Presidential aspirant Thoko Banda made the same observation that the culture of corruption in recent times is so scaring for a democratic dispensation, the paper noted.
“Now when we have such observation coming in a quick succession we must know that something is indeed wrong and government and all of us should be jerked into action to uproot this vice,” reads the editorial..
“Corruption in the public service is simply put, rotten and stinking. One indeed has to pay extra fees for any service. Some government departments work at a very slow speed deliberately so that a citizen who is desperate for the services has no alternative but to grease their palms.
“Government’s effort, if there is any, in the fight against graft is very unimpressive. All it does is to stop at words,” reads the editorial comment.
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