Corruption Watch is one of nine signatories to an open letter to the secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in which they commend measures taken so far to address the spread of the Covid-19 virus on the continent, and propose 10 guidelines for addressing potential corruption that might occur during the management of the pandemic.
Besides Corruption Watch, the other signatories are Centro de integridade Pública (Mozambique), Transparency International Zambia, Transparency International Zimbabwe, Transparency International Mauritius, Transparency International Initiative Madagascar, National Integrity Platform (Malawi). Botswana Center for Public Integrity, and the Transparency International secretariat.
The signatories urge SADC to accelerate regional governments’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic. They express concern that additional lives must not be lost to corruption, and highlight “the importance of ensuring that money goes where it needs to be invested to overcome the crisis and save lives.”
Their 10 guidelines include recommendations for:
- Emergency procurement and trade
- The SADC secretariat
- Whistle-blowing
- Media and civic space
- Management of donor funds
Download the open letter for full details.
