Malawi corruption worsens, TI Index shows: ‘Current generation of Malawians leaders are beyond redemption’

Malawi has within a space of four years slid from position 88 globally on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of Transparency International (TI) to 120 in 2016, reveals the annual publication by the international NGO tackling issues of corruption.

Dulani: Current generation of Malawians leaders are beyond redemption

The Index results were announced in Lilongwe by National Integrity Platform (NIP) which is comprised of the key institutions that contribute to the fight against corruption in the country.

The CPI generally defines corruption as “the misuse of public power for private benefit.”

The report finds that corruption has increased in Malawi.

Boniface Dulani, a political scientist based at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi (Unima) who attended the NIP announcement of the index took to Twitter to say he is not surprised with the ranking.

“I’m not surprised #Malawi has dropped on #2016CPI score..if anything, my surprise is that we have not fallen further,” Dulani tweeted.

“Current generation of Malawian leaders are beyond redemption..let’s focus on the youth to fight corruption,” another tweet from Dulani reads.

But Andrew Likaka counter-argued in his tweet: “Remember that majority of people who were involved in cashgate (corruption scandal) were the youths. Maybe focus on children.”

Dulani further noted that “defective social norms” are  contributing to worsening corruption.

“Even chiefs are involved in corruption,” said Dulani.

NIP technical advisor Karen Del Biondo said  Malawi need to tackle “grand corruption cases such as Cashgate and now we have the Maizegate.”

Government spokesman Nicholous Dausi, who is also Minister if Information, said govermene does not contest the index.

“But as government we are doing our best to end corruption,” he said.

Dausi said the poor rating gives the government a wake-up call “so that we work harder to root out corruption and improve our standing.”

He added: “The ratings are lessons for us  and we will  do what is necessary to improve so that we can ensure corruption is news of the past.”

Each year TI scores countries on the apparent corruption of their public sectors. TI believes its CPI “sends a powerful message and governments have been forced to take notice and act.”

Best and worst

The Berlin-based group said in its statement that “deep-rooted” reforms were needed worldwide to tackle the inequality and systemic corruption that have proved such “fertile ground” for populists.

For its 2016 index, the watchdog ranked 176 countries on a scale of 0-100, where zero means very corrupt and 100 signifies very clean.

The data is based on surveys from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Economist Intelligence unit and other bodies.

New Zealand and Denmark shared the number one spot with a score of 90 points, with Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway rounding out the top five of squeaky clean nations.

Strife-torn Somalia was the worst offender in the list for a 10th year running, followed by South Sudan, North Korea and Syria.

Qatar suffered the biggest fall, with a score 10 points lower than last year’s, which TI put down to the corruption claims dogging the country’s 2022 FIFA World Cup bid.

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chilungamo chimawawa
chilungamo chimawawa
7 years ago

the truth is Malawi leaders especially politicians are extremely corrupt!!!!!

Mika Kumbire
Mika Kumbire
7 years ago

But it also seems the ratings are based on publicized corruption. There are regimes in Africa and Asia where corruption publications do not see the light of day. In other countries like Botswana or Rwanda; although they are doing well economically; witnesses to huge corruption cases disappear before even their evidence to corruption cases is heard. And in some regimes that seem to be having reasonable economic growth; the press is not as free. In countries where there is too much freedom of speech like Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia; there are so many cooked up corruption cases that… Read more »

Mr Kusolola
Mr Kusolola
7 years ago

And looking at the ranking there seem to be a clear correlation between poverty and corruption. Which one follow the other is a matter of debate. But if you ask me I will say corruption steers poverty. And one fundamental difference between the rich and the poor countries is that rich nation do not smile at the corrupt. They act immediately and this send great message to other would be corrupt not to attempt anything corrupt. The poor nations wait for evidence to act. In fact they shield the corrupt. That is why we believe those shields are the principal… Read more »

syd
syd
7 years ago

what else did you expect?

Chimanga
Chimanga
7 years ago

With the current mediocre leadership, can Malawi be known for anything good? my foot!!!

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