Commemoration of International Anti Corruption Day

Allow me to pay my respects to:

His Majesty King Letsie III

The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Dr. Moeketsi Majoro

Honourable President of The Senate

Honourable Speaker of The National Assembly

His Lordship the President Of The Court Of Appeal

His Lordship the Chief Justice

Honourable Deputy Prime Minister

Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers of His Majesty’s Cabinet

Honourable Members of Parliament

Their Lordships Judges of The Court of Appeal and The High Court

UN Colleagues

The DCEO, LRA, LMPS and other partners

The Media

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

All Protocol Observed

Today the world round, nations gather to commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day. 

Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects most countries. Corruption threatens the stability and security of societies, undermines public trust and institutions, and jeopardizes sustainable development. It distorts markets, stifles economic growth and diverts funds from public services. While corruption is a global phenomenon, evidence shows that it has a disproportionate impact on certain demographics, in particular poorer communities and the most vulnerable persons. Corrupt practices have a particularly adverse impact on the lives of women, socially, politically and economically, contributing to the gender disparity gap.

Corruption thrives in times of crisis and the ongoing global COVID-19 health crisis has not been an exception. The urgent responses required during the pandemic created significant opportunities for corruption. Notably, corruption is also draining vital resources from countries, resources that are needed to power the socio-economic recovery and it is fueling the loss of our natural world.

The United Nations (UN) is assisting countries and communities to address the underlying causes of corruption that is estimated to cost $2.6 trillion annually. The United Nations Convention against Corruption is the only global anti-corruption instrument that contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda by fostering accountability, integrity, and transparency. These principles are critical in times of crisis -- in and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN has also set up a Global Task Force on Corruption, co-chaired by UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which reinforces a One-UN approach to support countries in preventing and addressing corruption.

UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025 commits the organisation to help shape inclusive state institutions resilient to corruption and abuse of power, founded upon the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability. And, UNDP’s next generation of anti-corruption support is helping countries to leverage the power of technology and innovation to boost anti-corruption efforts.

At UNDP, we are committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and continuous self-reflection and learning with the support of independent assessments and audits. We proactively tackle any issues identified through independent oversight systems. We strive to continuously strengthen our performance in line with the highest standards of excellence that UNDP has set for itself – and we work hard to help our partners to do the same. Indeed, the 2020 Aid Transparency Index rated UNDP with a score of 96.6 out of 100 -- an increase of 1.2 points since the last Index was published in 2018.

The  global theme of the 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day is “Your right, your role: Say no to corruption”

The 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the rights and responsibilities of everyone - including States, Government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, academia, the public and youth - in tackling corruption. And yet it is not only countries that need to unite and face this global problem with shared responsibility. Every single person - young and old - has a role to play to prevent and counter corruption, in order to promote resilience and integrity at all levels of society

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day is taking place within a context of the on-going COVID pandemic. COVID restrictions and the need for social distancing have given rise to an extensive use of digital and online trading platforms. Given this trend, small nations like Lesotho are having to scramble to deal with new digital and innovative form of economic crimes. Unscrupulous traders are short-changing governments and consumers when sourcing vital goods such as medicines and services. Many Least Developed Countries have registered a rise in fraud in related services.

From 2014 to 2020, Lesotho’s ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index slipped from 55 to 83 out of 180 countries with a score of 44 out of 100. While the Ibrahim Index of African Governance ranked Lesotho 20 of 54 countries in 2020 with a score of 52.3 a fall of 5 places since 2017. This signals the peoples concern towards rising corruption trends and a reduction in confidence of citizens in the capacity of the system to operate with integrity.

UNDP supported DCEO in 2014 to develop its first National Anti-Corruption Strategic Action Plan (NACSAP I). NACSAP I was meant to build the institutional capacity of DCEO to address economic crime and fraud through several interventions. These interventions would include, amongst others, declaration of assets by public office bearers. We have in 2021, just concluded support to DCEO to formulate NACSAP II. Within the context of the ongoing reform, it is anticipated that the role and mandate of the DCEO will be augmented to better enable it to undertake its functions with integrity and impartiality. We look forward to accompanying the DCEO in this transition and also enabling the entity to sharpen its capacity to counter digital fraud and economic crimes.

I am happy to note that the 2021 commemoration of international anti-corruption day, is being held jointly with DCEO and other institutions such as Lesotho Revenue Authority, and the Lesotho Mounted Police Services under the theme “recovering with Integrity.’’ It is through this partnership and collaboration that efforts aimed at curbing corruption and fraud can be successful.

As previously highlighted the scourge of corruption and its contribution to inequality and rising poverty among the most vulnerable segments of society, cannot be underestimated. Covid 19 has impacted entire societies, and as we attempt to recover from its devastating consequences, there is a need to do so with integrity. Covid 19  can be used as an opportunity to build forward better, improve the systems and institutions as pillars of integrity, build the needed national capacity for prevention, deterrence and prosecution of corrupt acts and to create the necessary awareness needed to change societal attitude towards “public goods”.

In closing, we must remember that the responsibility to recovery with integrity lies in our hands, we have a responsibility to act with integrity and to demand accountability of our duty bearers.

As we recover as nation, let us protect our integrity, let us recover with integrity.

It is Your right, your role: Say no to corruption”

Khotso!!!Pula!!!Nala!!!