{The Government and private investors are developing mechanisms aimed at seeking remedy to bribery challenges that are alleged to be surging in public market procurement where private entrepreneurs claim the process to be infested with the malpractice. }
The meet that commenced yesterday has brought together different stakeholders under the stewardship and guidance of Basel Institute on Governance Basel Institute, an independent not-for-profit competence centre working around the world with the public and private sectors to counter corruption and other financial crimes and to improve the quality of governance.
The Ombudsman, Aloysia Cyanzayire, said that sometimes bribes change hands between government and private investors/bidders and there’s an ardent need of joining efforts to address the matter.
“It is difficult for an individual to avoid giving a bribe when he/she knows that others have done so and might get the tender. This is where the matter becomes complicated. We therefore need to work with the private sector, agree on and follow the law to fight bribery,” she said.
Manzi Antoine, who represented the Private Sector Federation (PSF) said that mechanisms of eradicating the malpractice should be put in place and get well elaborated.
He said that some members of the public do offer bribes because of the complicated red-tape that translate into delayed services. He called on everyone to participate in addressing the practice.
Manzi said that the long complicated tendering process and other barriers precipitate bribery deals.
An expert from Basel Institute on Governance, Gemma Aiolfi said that every level must be accountable in fighting bribery and called for strong collaboration between government and private investors.
“Private investors have to play a great role in fighting against corruption since they are the foundation of country’s development .This must be accomplished through revealing how bribery is offered and understanding everyone’s role in combating corruption,” he said.
“Easing processes of getting markets would be one among mechanisms of tackling bribery. Adopting technology in the delivery of public markets and working in transparency can help better,” added Gemma Aiolfi.
The Ombudsman ,Aloysia Cyanzayire said that bribery reports of past years demonstrated that bribery rate was high at 17% and adds that the number slowed to 6% last year.
She said that corruption must be tackled regardless of the reduction of its cases.
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