An influential international motivational speaker and anti-corruption advocate, Professor Patrick Lumumba, believes the fight against corruption is not a single man’s responsibility if the battle is to be won.
Lumumba made the remarks when he delivered a keynote address at the official opening of the National Anti-Corruption Conference which President Lazarus Chakwera presided over on Monday morning at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.
Taking to the podium, Lumumba reminded Malawians that the battle against corruption needs collective responsibility and not just relying on the president alone.
“Corruption is a cancer that must be fought.The challenge with fighting corruption is that it fights back and fights back viciously hence the need to fight it collectively and not just relying on one individual,” said Lumumba.
The Kenyan Associate Professor of Law then took time to remind each one of the relevant stakeholders of their role in fighting corruption.
“You members of the clergy have you taken time to ask yourself where all this money which people bring to your churches as tithe come from? Since you are exempted from the taxation laws these people come and launder money within your church premises but what have you done? Have you at one time questioned them about their source of money? You too have a role to play in fighting corruption.
And you the media you go out there offering free publicity to these people without questioning their source of money.you as well have a role to play.And our friends in the academia,what research have you carried out in relation to fighting corruption?Then our traditional leaders you are seated here witnessing the launch of this conference but have you asked yourself of your role in fighting corruption?We all need to join hands and fight corruption collectively,” said Lumumba.
Meanwhile, Lumumba has hailed Chakwera for the efforts he is undertaking to fight corruption in the country.
“I can be a visitor here but from what I’ve heard and read I can confidently say that there is political will from the leadership in this country to fight corruption. Political will is what is lacking in most African countries in their quest to fight corruption but in Malawi the political will is there.Your Excellency this people that have surrounded you in daylight they will and smile at you but during the night they will curse you why? because you have taken away food from them.Some of them get their food from corrupt acts but since you have taken a bold step in fighting corruption you have taken away food from them,” said Lumumba attracting jeers from the crowd that graced the official opening ceremony.
Lumumba is an eloquent Kenyan legal practitioner and an Advocate of the High Courts of Kenya and Tanzania. He has received many prestigious awards from local and internationally renowned organisations and institutions.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya FCPS (K), a Member of the Kenya Institute of Management and a Certified Mediator. Lumumba was the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya School of Law until 2017. He is an Associate Professor of Public Law and Founding Dean, Kabarak University School of Law. He is a former Secretary of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission and former Director of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC): Now Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
He is the Founding Trustee of the African Institute for Leaders and Leadership and founding Chairman of the Association of the Citizens Against Corruption. In 2001, he was appointed to serve in the National Committee on Implementation of International Humanitarian Law.
