Councils slow pace in corruption fight irks parliament

Legal affairs committee of parliament says the pace at which some district councils are implementing their anti-corruption activities leaves a lot to be desired.

This has been said during the committee’s meeting with Salima district council officials on the operatinalisation of Institutional integrity committee IIC.

The IIC was established in 2019 with an aim of preventing and investigating all form of corruption at council level.

Speaking after presentation of the Salima IIC’s activities by the district commissioner, members of parliament said 3 years without submission of reports of its activities indicates lack of commitment by the council.

Member of Parliament for Rumphi central observed that most of the money was used for orientation and allowances of the officials instead of anti-corruption activities.

Member of Parliament for Mulanje west expressed concern with the answers of the dc saying “it indicates lack of seriousness from the committee.”

However the district commissioner Grace Chirwa said the committee failed to submit its reports because it was dormant due to among others relocation of members of the committee to other districts.

She admitted that the committee only faced challenges and no success stories since its constitution have been registered.

Salima district commissioner however assured parliament of improvements.