The Hanns Seidel Foundation in collaboration with the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and Integrity Watch (IW) organized the IV Pan-African Anti-Corruption Conference to discuss “Corruption and Development in Africa”. The conference took place on 4th and 5th June 2013 in Dar es Salaam, aiming at sharing experiences across African Countries in preventing and combating corruption most effectively and efficiently. This is the fourth conference in the series presided by first Pan-African Anti-Corruption Conference held in Windhoek, Namibia in 2012, later convened in Nairobi Kenya in 2011 and last year 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Around 80 experts from Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, Namibia, South Africa and host Tanzania including diplomats and representatives of governmental institutions, academia, lawyers, businessmen, representatives from civil society organizations as well as media attended the conference. Among dignitaries and high ranking officials from Tanzania who participated were Honorable Chief Justice of Tanzania Mohamed Chande Othman and His Excellency outgoing Germany Ambassador to Tanzania Mr. Klaus – Peter Blandes. These relevant stakeholders aired their views through presentations and discussions focusing on various aspects of corruption, its definition, its consequences and mostly important ways in which it can be fought. About fifteen papers were presented and discussed in five panels.
The guest of honor Minister of state in President’s Office, Good Governance, Capt (rtd) George Mkuchika said during his key note speech that Corruption has not only undermined the country and the continent’s economy growth, but also jeopardizes the consolidation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It is estimated that the amount of money leaving developing countries as illicit capital flight per year is ten times than the total global foreign aids and constitute an immense amount of loss in the country’s income. Citing Tanzania being a host country the Minister said, if capital flight from Tanzania is stopped, the government will have enough resources to achieve poverty reduction targets under the ‘MKUKUTA’ framework which include maternal mortality ratio reduced from 454 per 100,000 live births 2010 to 265 per 100,000 live births by 2025, access to electricity increased from 14 percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2025 at national level.
Being one of the organizers Dr. Edward Hoseah, Director of PCCB underlined that Corruption is a big issue; it is not similar to other normal offences. Something serious must be done to combat the problem. Statistics shows that more than USD200bn is lost each year through corruption and illicit capital flight. He added that: To make things worse, a country loses about 50 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of the revenue collected. This is according to the African Development Bank.
Mr. Klaus Liepert, Head of HSF Africa Department, revealed during the opening session that Corruption undermines democracy and good governance by flouting or even subverting formal processes. More generally, corruption erodes the institutional capacity of government if procedures are disregarded, resources are siphoned off, and public offices are bought and sold. It undermines the legitimacy of government and such democratic values as trust and tolerance.
In conclusion of the conference, it was agreed that Corruption and illicit capital flight from developing nations to developed nations is a bottleneck to the fight against poverty eradication in Africa. African leaders should lead clean basing on pillars of good governance being leadership, people’s participation, democratic space, transparency and accountability as well as rule of law, where the court has to be independent with integrity and impartiality. It was also mentioned that aid and development not necessarily join together.