Africa needs to commit more financial resources to the fight against corruption, including the protection of whistleblowers and witnesses. This was the recurring message at the 2024 edition of the annual African Anti-Corruption Dialogue, held in Arusha, from November 7-8. The event, organised by the Arusha[1]based African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), gathered delegates from across the continent. The AUABC Chairperson, Ms Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhate, said during the opening session that one of the main challenges in combating corruption in Africa is the lack of effective whistleblower protection mechanisms. This challenge, she added, persists despite the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) 21 years ago. AUABC Executive Secretary, Ms Charity Nchimunya, stressed during a panel discussion on “Building Strong Foundations: The Essentials of Whistleblowers and Witness Protection” that national laws need further tightening to protect whistleblowers, a key component in the fight against corruption. The Deputy Director General of Tanzania’s Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Ms Neema Mwakalyelye, explained to journalists in a sideline interview that protecting whistleblowers can be both complex and costly. In some cases, it involves changing the whistleblower’s location , identity and even nationality. She noted that while anti-graft agencies need dedicated funds to protect whistleblowers, those who come forward to expose corruption must also exercise caution. “It would be counterproductive if someone went around boasting that they reported a case to the PCCB; this would certainly increase the risks they face,” she emphasised. In a separate briefing, Ms Esther Muigai Mnaro, Programme Manager at the Arusha-based Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), noted that Africa is not a debtor continent but rather a “net creditor.” She echoed Chairperson Diakhate’s remarks, highlighting that the continent loses an estimated $50 billion annually due to corruption and other illicit activities, including money laundering. PALU collaborates closely with AUABC in anti-corruption efforts. Ms Mnaro reiterated the well-known challenges in fighting corruption, which require both courage and transparency. She cited the tragic case of Eswatini lawyer Thulani Maseko, a vocal government critic who was brutally murdered in front of his family on January 21, 2023, in Mbabane. Justice for his killing remains elusive, as Amnesty International highlighted in a statement marking the one-year anniversary of his death. Day one of the dialogue focused on discussions about the role of non-state actors, including NGOs and the media, in bolstering the fight against corruption—a fight widely acknowledged as essential for upholding equality, justice and development
Fighting graft needs funding
