Public servants urged to stick to ethics to beat corruption

Dr Edward Hoseah

The Director General of the country’s anti corruption agency has underscored the need for public servants to adhere to moral standards and have bold strategic stance if they want to overcome corruption in their work places.

Dr Edward Hoseah made the call in Dar es Salaam over the weekend when opening a one day training workshop on promoting ethics, integrity and accountability in public service to senior government officials, (Permanent Secretaries and Chief executives).

“To promote ethics, integrity, combat corruption and culture of impunity, you need a bold strategic stance to overcome the scourge,” said the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Chief.

He called upon public servants to avoid conflict of interest and disqualification stressing that they should not use their authority for improper advancement of their personal financial interests.

He advised them not to solicit or receive any gift or other favours that may influence the exercise of their functions or the performance of their duties or their judgment.

For his part, the Chief Executive of Uongozi Institute, Prof Joseph Semboja challenged senior officials to adhere to ethics, arguing that they cannot become leaders if they don’t stick to their professional principles.

“Aspiring leaders must understand that leadership is about legitimacy, be it social or political. You get society and political acceptance from your personal behaviours, conduct and perspectives; in short from your ethics,” he stressed.

He said if leaders fail the test they can only become dictators, using power or rank to rule, but they cannot be leaders either.

“In other words, there is no such thing as a bad leader... crooks cannot become leaders,” he noted, adding: “This is why our institute considers PCCB and the Ethics Secretariat important partners in supporting leadership development in this country. Our combined efforts are important for a quick impact.”

Prof Semboja said they were training senior officials because they were an important cadre in the development of ethics in the nation’s public service.

“We want to build and strengthen their knowledge base, skills and capabilities in order to enhance their competences in their workplace. This is important in order to keep pace with the changing but increasingly complex demands,” said CEO.