The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Action Aid Malawi have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an aim of reducing corruption cases by involving youth in fighting the malpractice in the country.
The signing ceremony of the MOU came after the two organisations noticed the absence of youths in fighting corruption.
The ceremony which was part of the launch of a five year partnership between the two organisations, took place on Thursday in Lilongwe at Crossroads Hotel.
Among other things, the MOU is focusing on continuously raising awareness among the youth with the bureau in anti-corruption civic education and capacity building.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi24 on the sidelines of the ceremony, Director of Public Education at the bureau Charity Mphande described the partnership as a great step in achieving a free corrupt nation.
“As ACB we are going to benefit a lot from this partnership. What is going to happen is that people will be informing us of any corrupt cases happening,” said Mphande.
She then thanked Action Aid Malawi for coming up with the initiative saying fighting corruption is a responsibility of every Malawian hence the need for stakeholders to be part of the fight.
In his remarks, Head of Programmes and Policy at Action Aid Malawi, Peter Pangani said the partnership has come at a right time when the country is failing to develop due to corruption.
“It is evident that Malawi is grappling with the corruption scourge a cancer which continues to stifle development and diminish the vast untapped resources for the benefit of the present and future generation,” Pangani said.
He suggested that people should encourage the youth to participate in the initiative without delay.
On his part, National coordinator for Activista Malawi Youth Network, a youth organisation under Action Aid, Wales Chigwenembe said the youth network will go to rural and urban areas to equip youths with knowledge on issues of corruption, public social accountability monitoring and budget tracking.
Chigwenembe therefore called on youths to be at the forefront in ensuring that there are no cases of corruption in the country.
“We have money but few people are benefiting so we are saying because of lack of transparency, young people should be able to monitor government resources and how systems of the government are working so that there should be no corruption,” he said.
The initiative which is to run for five years is expected to be conducted in all districts of the country.
