African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption

A Declaration Made at Kampala, Uganda

5 February 1999

The regional seminar on Parliament and Good Governance: Towards a New Agenda for Controlling Corruption in Africa was held in Kampala, Uganda, 1-5 February 1999. The African parliamentarians in attendance at the Seminar hereby issue the following declaration:

Corruption poses a grave danger to the well-being of African peoples and to the development of their countries. Corruption diverts scarce resources from basic human needs and destroys confidence in the integrity of our institutions

Corruption can best be controlled by strengthening systems of accountability, transparency and public participation in the governance processes of our countries. It is essential that we develop healthy, balanced relations between the state, civil society and the marketplace and that parliaments be strengthened as effective institutions of accountability in overseeing the policies and actions of governments.

We are confident that progress can be made in bringing corruption under control. Though corruption remains a very serious problem in many African countries, there is also growing evidence of progress being made. We believe it is possible to apply the lessons learned and best practices of past anti-corruption campaigns to fight corruption across Africa.

Our participation in this weeklong seminar has revealed the great value of African parliamentarians coming together to share information, experience and lessons in strengthening parliament in the fight against corruption. It is imperative that we build upon this experience by maintaining contact with each other and by reaching out to parliamentarians and parliamentary organizations throughout Africa.

Accordingly, we hereby establish the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption to strengthen the commitment and capacity of African parliamentarians to fight corruption by:

Building the commitment and capacity of parliaments to exercise accountability, with particular relation to financial matters.

Sharing information on lessons learned and best practices

Undertaking projects to control corruption

Cooperating with organizations in civil society with shared objectives

Interim Coordinating Committee

We hereby establish an interim coordinating committee to consist of:

Chair: Hon. Augustine Ruzindana, MP

Chair, Public Accounts Committee, Parliament of Uganda

Vice-chair: Hon. Lindiwe Zulu, MP

Deputy Speaker, Gauteng Provincial Legislature, South Africa

Regional Representatives:

East Africa: Hon. Musikari Kombo, MP

Chair, Anti-corruption Select Committee

National Assembly of Kenya

Hon. Mujuni J. Kataraia, MP

Member, Public Parastatal Organizations Accounts Committee

Parliament of Tanzania

West Africa: Hon. J.H. Mensah, MP

Chair, Public Accounts Committee, Parliament of Ghana

Hon. Hountondji Jean Alexandre, MP

Main Secretary, Parliament of Benin

Southern Africa: Hon. Abdul Carimo Mahamed Issa, MP

Vice-President, National Assembly of Mozambique

Hon. Dzikamai Callisto Mavhaire, MP

Chair, Public Accounts Committee, Parliament of Zimbabwe

The role of the Interim Committee will be to provide leadership in building the Network and ensuring ongoing communications among members. The Parliamentary Centre, Canada, with a base in Africa, will serve as the interim secretariat.

Initial Activities

Upon return to our parliaments, we commit ourselves to:

Share the findings and conclusions of the Seminar;
Establish national parliamentary groups of the Network;
Contact organizations in civil society with shared objectives (e.g. African chapters of Transparency International);
Reach out and seek the participation of African parliamentarians from countries not in attendance at the Seminar;
Report the results of these initial efforts to the Network (April 1999)

The Coordinating Committee will:

Develop terms of reference for the Committee and the Network
Identify required resources for the Network
Identify initial projects to be undertaken by the Network (e.g. stock taking of anti-corruption activities by Parliaments in participating countries; support for the adoption of an African convention against corruption)
Report on these matters to the Network (May 1999)

In conclusion, we pledge ourselves to participate actively in the Network and to seek its development as a tool for strengthening Parliament’s contribution to the fight against corruption.

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Hon. Hountondji Jean Alexandre, MP

Parliament of Benin

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Hon. Sounouvou Francois F., MP

Parliament of Benin

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Ato Temesgen Oumer Furkan, MP

Member of the Budget Affairs Standing Committee

House of Peoples’ Representatives, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

____________________________

Dr. Petros Olango, MP

Deputy Speaker, House of Peoples’ Representatives

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

____________________________

Dr. (Ms) Ethiopia Beyene Tedla, MP

Secretary to the Women’s Affairs Standing Committee

House of Peoples’ Representatives, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

____________________________

Hon. J.H. Mensah, MP

Chair, Public Accounts Committee

and Minority Leader, Parliament of Ghana

____________________________

Hon. Jimmy M. Kitonga, MP

National Assembly of Kenya

____________________________

Hon. Musikari Kombo, MP

Chair, Anti-corruption Select Committee

National Assembly of Kenya

____________________________

Hon. Simeon Mwero Mkalla, MP

Chair, Finance, Planning and Trade Committee

National Assembly of Kenya

____________________________

Hon. Henry O. Obwocha, MP

Chair, Public Accounts Committee

National Assembly of Kenya

____________________________

Hon. R.V.F. Chibambo, MP

National Assembly of Malawi

____________________________

Hon. Peter Chupa, MP

Minister of Works, and Member of the

Parliamentary Affairs and National Technical Constitutional

Review Committees, National Assembly of Malawi

____________________________

Hon. Raul Domingos, MP

Member of the Standing Committee

National Assembly of Mozambique

____________________________

Hon. Abdul Carimo Mahomed Issa, MP

Vice-President, National Assembly of Mozambique

____________________________

Hon. Lindiwe Zulu, MP

Deputy Speaker, Gauteng Provincial Legislature

Republic of South Africa

____________________________

Hon. Fatma S. Ally, MP

Member, Public Accounts Committee (CCM)

Parliament of Tanzania

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Hon. Stephen J. Galinoma, MP

Parliament of Tanzania

____________________________

Hon. Mujuni J. Kataraia, MP

Member, Public Parastatal Organizations Accounts Committee

Parliament of Tanzania

____________________________

Hon. Dr. Fabius Byaruhanga, MP

Member, Public Accounts Committee

Parliament of Uganda

____________________________

Hon. Salaamu Musumba, MP

Parliament of Uganda

____________________________

Hon. Sarah Namusoke, MP

Chair, Committee on Presidential and Foreign Affairs

Parliament of Uganda

____________________________

Hon. Gabriel Opio, MP

Chair, Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development

Parliament of Uganda

____________________________

Hon. Augustine Ruzindana, MP

Chair, Public Accounts Committee

Parliament of Uganda

____________________________

Hon. Dzikamai Callisto Mavhaire, MP

Chair, Public Accounts Committee

Parliament of Zimbabwe

___________________________

Hon. Pamela Tungamirai, MP

Deputy Chief Whip

Parliament of Zimbabwe