Rwanda should be the least corrupt country in Africa

Since its establishment about a year ago, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has grilled several government officials over mismanagement of tax payers’ money. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times’ Frank Kanyesigye, PAC chairman Juvenal Nkusi talked about – among other things – the committee’s mandate, achievements so far, and why he wants to see Rwanda named the least corrupt country on the continent. Excerpts below: What is the role of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee? It was established by Parliament in 2011 and it’s responsible for reviewing the Auditor General’s reports regarding management of the national budget. PAC examines and investigates financial misconduct within public institutions and reports cases of misuse of public funds to the plenary to decide on punitive measures. Do you think the Auditor General’s reports are accurate?Everything has got a beginning. In Rwanda, we were not used to audits. The AG’s office is responsible for auditing public funds to ascertain whether they are not mismanaged.When you compare the AG’s first report with the ones of today, you can clearly see that there is a big positive change. It’s is encouraging.Can PAC fire government officials implicated in the mismanagement of public funds?We don’t have powers to sack people but we can recommend their dismissal. If you cause massive financial loss to the Government through fraud, illegal awarding of tenders and mismanagement of public assets, it means you are not the right person to be the voice of the people.Some people claim that due to the policy of zero tolerance to corruption in Rwanda, government employees are sometimes arrested without enough evidence against them. When they go to court, they get released because prosecution cannot table enough evidence. What is your take on this? When there is no evidence to pin someone, then court’s decision should be respected. Sometimes the AG’s report could have come with errors. The most important thing is to take them to court and they face the law. Last year, about 200 government officials appeared before PAC to explain their role in the loss of Rwf9.7 billion. What happened to these people afterwards? I hope those implicated were prosecuted. Our role is to recommend prosecution. That’s where we stop. The National Public Prosecution Authority takes on from there. Since PAC was established, what issues have you been able to address? Have you recovered some funds that were embezzled?PAC is a chain in the process of accountability; we are working with various stakeholders. Prosecution is responsible for following up those implicated. If court found them guilty, they would obviously have to refund the money. I can’t specify the amount of money that has been refunded but what I know is that officials who have been found guilty of embezzling public funds have had to refund the money. Should PAC be given more powers to prosecute people who bend the law?The law is very clear. There is the power of the Judiciary, Executive and the National Assembly. We have to respect all of them and their decisions. The National Assembly gives us powers to probe management of public funds but not to prosecute those who bend the law.Some cases that are taken to court involve embezzlement of money as little as Rwf30,000. Is it because powerful people have the capacity to buy their way out when implicated?We have not reached that level of performance audit, but I don’t believe that can work in Rwanda. Our justice system is very strict. Rich or poor, we are equal before the law. In Africa, corrupt politicians use public funds to build themselves palaces. Do we have such incidents in Rwanda as well? I have never heard of such cases. When you look at Kigali, for instance, do you see any palaces or castles? How many government officials have swimming pools, basketball and tennis courts in their homes? The way tenders are awarded these days raises many questions. Irregularities have been cited. What do you think should be done?Procedures should be followed and respected. Government bodies should be transparent. Those who lose must be informed why and this should be made public. Last year, Transparency International ranked Rwanda the fourth least corrupt country in Africa. Won’t this recognition cause some sort of complacency?The country being fourth least corrupt in Africa is not enough. We want to be number one.