Editor,

The whistleblowers’ bill now before parliament will surely protect many individuals who wish to act as sources and give information of public interest to relevant bodies, so that law violators are disciplined.

In the past, individuals or employees from both in private and public institutions have feared to disclose information that relates to unlawful or other illegal conducts or practices because their confidentiality was not guaranted.

Once the bill is passed into law, I am confident that unlawful acts will be minimized. I have heard a case in one ministry where an employee was fired because he refused to bend the law.

The case involved approving a tender worth millions of francs but the employee, who was, at the time head of the tender committee resisted his boss’s influence to award the tender to a firm belonging to the boss’ friends.

Secondly, the whistleblowers should not be tasked to prove whether the information they provided was credible. It should be the work of prosecution to verify the accuracy.

I would like to suggest to the parliament that individuals who give useful tips be rewarded financially,  as a way of encouraging many others to join the campaign. I appeal to our lawmakers to pass this bill because whistleblowers fight corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

Stella Teta
Kigali