Furthermore, it attacks the foundation of democratic institutions partly or wholly by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. He stressed that in the political realm corruption undermines the rule of law, respect for human rights, accountability and transparency and weakens government institutions and this in turn erodes public legitimacy in government and compromises good governance. As to him the social costs of corruption are also deleterious as it deepens income inequality, poverty and adversely affects good moral values in the society.
In Ethiopia, so as to combat corruption democratic institutions such as House of People’s Representative, Council of Federation, Human Right Commission, Institution of the Ombudsman, National Board of Election, Ethical and Anti corruption Commission and Auditor General should work in more cooperative manner to undertake a check and balance and assert and institutionalize the political right of citizens, he underscored. Tesfaye Molla (PhD) lecturer of political science at Kotebe Metropolitan University on his part said that corruption, by diverting resources away from public use, seriously inhibits the realization of overall development of a given country.
He noted that addressing corruption increasingly and successfully requires the concerted attention of both governments and business institutions. He recommended that judiciary, contending parties and independent media, the private sector and the civil society as well as the general public should work jointly and stand as one to combat corruption in their own operations and meet the goal of integrated corruption prevention strategy. As to him, the anticorruption legal framework that the country had been using for a long period of time was not a problem solving type.
However, as democratic institutions operating in the country have a lion share to combat corruption, the government should work to enhance the capacity of those institutions. “How deep corruption is sustained in a given country portrays how democratic institutions fall short in discharging their responsibility in that country.” While talking the reform that has been undertaken on anti corruption legal frameworks he said that reforming the frame is unquestionably essential. However, as reform by itself could not bring the desired goals; all stakes, government, social and civic organizations, the public should work together.
Ayelegn Mulalem Commissioner of Ethiopian Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission on his part said that the Commission, in conjunction with the reshuffling of its executives, has been undertaking internal structural reform to achieve the goal of integrated corruption strategy. The newly formed structure is inclusive and helpful to combat corruption by allowing the involvement of stakeholders. As to him, the amendment of the civil society law, media law and electoral law will contribute a positive impact for the achievement of the Commission. Creating independent justice system is a crucial issue to reduce corruption and currently the appointment of neutral attorney general to control criminal cases has a great advantage to reduce corruption in the country, he opined.
According to the Commissioner, the Commission has been working in more coordinated manner than before to fight and control it. In this regard, it is working in collaboration with the public wing, civil society, trade unions, supervisory bodies and agencies, media, eyewitness and victims of corruption. corruption is not curbed simply by the efforts of the Commission; society, politicians and activists should undertake part and exert utmost effort to fight it by using the conducive environments created in the country, he remarked.
The Ethiopian Herald May 22/ 2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
