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PRESS STATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS OF MASSIVE CORRUPTION AND FRAUD IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has noted with great concern and outrage the

numerous allegations of corruption and fraud in the public service and the plundering of our scarce public resources whilst most of our people continue to live in abject poverty and can barely afford the basic necessities of life. It is sad to learn as per media reports that most of Government Hospitals and clinics do not have even essential medicines and other medical supplies and equipment. Similarly, there is no maize in ADMARC depots at a time when our financial resources are being plundered with reckless abandon at Capital Hill. MLS condemns in no uncertain terms those involved in these corrupt and fraudulent activities and the plundering of public resources. MLS further condemns the system that was all along facilitating these nefarious criminal actions. We take this opportunity to remind Government and the public that corruption is not only a crime but also an evil that should not be tolerated in our society. Corruption poses a serious threat to the rule of law, democracy, human rights, equity and social justice. It also hinders our economic development as a nation as it leads to flouting or even subverting of formal processes and inefficient provision of public services like those in the health sector. Corruption and fraud also increase the cost of doing business through the price of illicit payments themselves, and it is also distorts the playing field , by shielding firms and individuals with connections from competition and thereby sustaining such inefficient firms and individuals. MLS notes with grave concern that the present Government has like its

predecessors, despite making various verbal commitments, failed to display serious political will to address the issue of corruption and fraud in the public service. One such example is its reluctance to pass leqislation that can facilitate accountability of public officials like the Declaration of Assets Bill and the Access to Information Bill. The absence of these legislation, among other things, has created a fertile ground for corruption and fraud and the plundering of public resources. It is high time that Government adopted a true zero tolerance approach to all

forms of corruption and fraud in the public service. The Government must commit to

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conducting its business and affairs in a manner that does not engage in, or facilitate, any form of corruption and fraud. In view of the above, MLS demands that the following bold steps be taken as a matter of urgency: 1. That Government investigates and brings the perpetrators to justice and leaves no stone unturned. 2. That Government must ensure that investigations into the corrupt and fraudulent activities are concluded within a reasonable time. 3. That Government immediately traces and obtains court orders empowering it to freeze the assets of all those suspected to have been involved in these evil practices pending the conclusion of the investigations 4. That those suspected to have been involved be it in the public service or cabinet be suspended or interdicted from their positions and banned from going to their offices and traveling outside of the country pending the conclusion of the investigations. 5. That Government immediately rotates officials to different positions and geographic areas especially high ranking officials in government. Long-time work in the same position and place is creating relationships inside and outside the government which encourage and help conceal corruption, fraud and favoritism. 6. That Government should ensure that the Declaration of Assets Bill and Access to Information Bill are ready for debate and eventual passage in the forthcoming sitting of the National Assembly.

Dated this

4th

day of October 2013.

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Mandala Mambulasa President Felisah Rose Kilembe Secretary