Malawi drops on Transparency International's corruption index
What is the most corrupt country in the world? To answer this question, Transparency International, an international NGO that monitors corruption, annually publishes an index ranking 183 countries according to how corrupt their public service is perceived to be. The 2011 Index is now out.
With protests surging around the world and demonstrators demanding greater accountability of their governments and leaders, the corruption index is evidence enough that protesters’ demands are well-founded, according to Transparency International.
“This year we have seen corruption on protestors’ banners be they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” writes the organization chair Huguette Labelle.
“2011 saw the movement for greater transparency take on irresistible momentum, as citizens around the world demand accountability from their governments. High-scoring countries show that over time efforts to improve transparency can, if sustained, be successful and benefit their people,” Transparency International Managing Director Cobus de Swardt added.
According to the index, New Zealand (Score 9.5 out of 10) is seen as the least corrupt country in the world, with Finland and Denmark tied on the second place (Score 9.4).
Anchoring the global table in corruption perceptions are North Korea and Somalia, tied each with a score of 1.
In Sub Saharan Africa, Botswana with and a Score of 6.1 is seen as the least corrupt country. It ranks globally at number 32 from New Zealand.
Malawi, with a score of 3 is ranked number 100 (from New Zealand) and is number 14 in the sub region.
Malawi’s score in a similar survey last year was 3.4 and it was ranked number 85 from the least corrupt country. It has dropped 15 paces in terms of ranking and has lost 0.4 points on the scores.
With recent retrogressive developments in Malawi, which saw the public taking to the streets in protests over increasing tyranny, bad governance and poor policies, increasing incidences of unchecked corruption coupled with a selective fight against corruption, Malawi’s drop is as expected.
