Press Release

Resolution of TE’s 4th General Assembly Meeting

It is crystal clear that corruption is becoming more and more devastating and dangerous. In our tradition, corruption has been considered as an evil act and so has been punished by penal laws.  Likewise, corruptors have been ridiculed by the society.

At present, however, corruption is becoming intense and widespread in our country. It is expanding like a plague both in government and non-government organizations taking different forms. It is growing both in cities and rural areas. In this regard, we have come to a situation where the practice of giving and taking bribe is no more displeasing thing. Instead of doing things in accordance with established laws and rules, involving in corruption to make things done has become a recognized way of life. And it becomes rare on the part of the public to condemn and ridicule the alleged corruptors.

By using the loopholes in the working procedures of many public offices, some perpetrate crimes which are often systemic in nature and with immense potential to inflict damage on the state and the population as a whole. Recent allegations of fraud and graft in the Addis Ababa City Administration can illustrate the case more clearly.  

The NEBA gold scandal and corruption in land administration in the capital Addis Ababa as well as other illicit offences that have come to light in a row is a good illustration of this.

Besides, no one can claim that the system and working procedures of many public and private organizations including keble and other tiers of administration to be free from corruption.

It is, therefore, imperative that strong measure has to taken urgently by the Government, the private sector, civil societies, research and learning institutions, the media, the international community and others to combat the evil before it becomes hopelessly rampant. Other wise, it is virtually plausible that it would further deepen the current higher rate of inflation which in turn would make the poor vulnerable.

The spread of corruption is not only an impediment to development, democracy and the processes of justice, but also contributes to the erosion of public confidence in a state. 

In the above context, TE’s 4th General Assembly meeting was held on May 10, 2008 at Ghion Hotel to discuss about the impact of the ever increasing rate of corruption in Ethiopia and to find some possible solutions to deal with it. Accordingly, participants at meeting discussed the matter thoroughly after which they came up with the following resolution.

Actions to be taken

By the Government

Although the government’s commitment to doing away with corruption by establishing the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) is very encouraging, there are still different forms and methods of corruption involving the embezzlement of public and government properties. Therefore, we believe that the government should take some extra measures in order to curtail the problem.

Therefore, the government should do the following:

1. It should develop more laws that are central to combat and deal with corruption offences.
2. Public institutions which are founded at each level of administration for the purpose of fighting corruption should be provided appropriate education in order to secure their compliance to organizational objectives. Likewise, they should be subjected to constant follow-up and control.
3. Appointment of officials should be carried out with care and ought to be based on their competence.
4. The government should introduce a system where there is accountability, transparency and the rule of law.
5. We urge the government to take swift legal action against corruptors.

By Private Organizations

Some private organizations particularly those involved businesses do often give bribe in order to find quick decision for their cases. Evidently, such kind of practices embodies an act of corruption that contributes a lot to its expansion by influencing individuals to commit similar crimes. As has been repeatedly mentioned, there will not be a bribe taker at all, if there is no a bribe giver at first.
                                                                                 
Therefore, the following things are expected on the part of private organizations and business people:

1. They should condemn corruption offences and should also recognize that such practices are disgraceful.
2. They should work in coordination with government and non-government organizations whose aim is to fight corruption.
3. They should put forward their recommendations to concerned public offices and put pressure on them with the intention of introducing corrective measures on policies and procedures thereby sealing off loopholes that are believed to be conducive for corruption.
4. They should involve and participate actively in the anti-corruption campaign through such channels as the chambers of commerce and workers’ associations.
5. We urge them to draft and develop code of conduct pertaining to corruption issues in their organization.

By the Civil Society

As corruption is a universal phenomenon that could occur at any given place and level, its eradication call for the active participation and involvement of the different cross-sections of the society. No corruption offences are either hidden or secret from the public. Therefore, the public is expected comply with the following recommendations.

1. It should show its conviction to expose corruption offences and blow the whistle on alleged corruption offences that occur in all places and at every level.
2. It should only retain legal option in order to seek out solution for presumed cases rather than expecting verdict through bribing.
3. It should condemn the practice of both bribe giving and bribe taking.
4. It should insist on every government organs starting from the higher administrative organ to the kebele unit to evaluate and follow up their activities with the intention of knowing their achievements or failures. 
5. Voluntary basis associations, namely Idirs, Professional associations and workers associations should educate their members in order to fight corruption and to ensure the rule of law.
6. We also call upon non-government organizations to actively involve in the overall effort of eradicating corruption.

By Research and Education Centers

Although it is mandatory to prosecute alleged corruptors in a bid to combat corruption, primary emphasis should be placed on creating awareness on the harmful effect of corruption. To this effect:

1. Learning institutions at each level should educate students about the dire effect of corruption and its impact on the nation as whole so as to permeate good moral behaviour in the youth up on whom the country’s future rests.
2. Education centres should publish and distribute researches and studies relating to the threat of corruption on the country’s development and on the well being of the society.
3. We urge these institutions to promote anti-corruption education so as to create an aware society where corruption will not be tolerated.

By the Media

Given their presumed objectives and their publicity in the society, the media is expected a lot in expanding anti-corruption education. Hence,

1. Both the government and private media should launch anti-corruption programmes targeting the population.
2. Both the private and government media should aware the public on various forms of corruption offences that occur time after time and the need to be alert for same.
3. Generally, we urge both the government and private media to expose and monitor private and government organizations which are suspected of corruption and improprieties by making use of the investigative journalism.

By the International Community

It is clear that the international community who are working in the country play an important in the ongoing anti-corruption campaign. Therefore,
 

1. International organizations should obey to laws while running after their cases in different offices.
2. We urge them to blow the whistle to concerned authorities while they come upon a bribe requests and to actively take part in the fight against corruption. We also urge them to give the necessary support for government and non-government institutions in the country which are engaged in the anti-corruption campaign.

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