9/27/08

Rwanda, Tanzania least corrupt in EAC


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Written by BOSCO HITIMANA  

Saturday, 27 September 2008

KIGALI, RWANDA -  The 2008 corruption perceptions index (CPI) published by Transparency International (TI), ranked Rwanda and Tanzania the least corrupt countries in the East African Community (EAC).

The report unveiled last week ranked the two countries at 102 with a score of 3 among 180 countries surveyed.   

This year's CPI results show that Tanzania which last year was the least corrupt country in the East African Community at 94 has been pushed to 102 with a score of 3 showing an increase in levels of corruption.  

Meanwhile, the report hails Rwanda's efforts in the fight against corruption moving from 111 last year to 102 this year, translating into tougher measures against corruption.

The TI CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in a given country and is a composite index, drawing on different experts and business surveys. This year's CPI results show that 180 countries undergone the survey.

In other EAC member countries, Uganda comes next to Rwanda and Tanzania at 126 with a score of 2.6 followed by Kenya at 147 with a score of 2.1 and the last is Burundi with a score of 1.9.

Speaking to the press in Kigali, the head of TI Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kananura hailed Rwanda's efforts to combat corruption. He said that this year's rankings reflect much efforts and collaboration of the government's organs in fighting corruption.  

The report highlights a fatal link between poverty, failed institutions and graft on a global picture. It also notes that the strength of oversight mechanisms is at risk among the wealthier countries.  

"In the poorest countries, corruption levels can mean the difference between life and death, when money for hospitals or clean water is in play," the chairperson of TI, Huguete Labelle said.  

Huguette warned that the continuing high levels of corruption and poverty plaguing many of the worlds societies amount to an ongoing humanitarian disaster that cannot be tolerated. She said foe even the more privileged countries, with enforcement disturbingly uneven, a tougher approach to tackling corruption is needed.     

The report calls for strong oversight through parliaments, law enforcements, independent media and a vibrant civil society to fight against corruption.  

On estimate, the report says, unchecked levels of corruption would add US$50billion or nearly half of annual global aid outlays to the cost of achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on water and sanitation.    

The report ranked Denmark, New Zealand, and Sweden least corrupt country in the world with a score of 9.3. Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country in the world with a score of 1.0.

The CPI comes just days after the heads of anti-corruption bodies in the East African Community concluded a meeting in Kigali on the way forward in the fight against corruption.

"One of the things we are going to strategise on-number-one is to formulate a policy that can bring together the political actors to desist from being corrupt," the chair of the EAC anti-corruption association, Dr. Edward Hoseah said.

The five anti-corruption bodies vowed to stem down all forms of corruption ranging from political corruption to the smallest tangible means of corruption. 



 






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