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* His panel discussion session tomorrow is; ‘State of Play on Whistleblower and Witness Protection Mechanism: Perspectives of Civil Society Organisation’
* It will highlight the experiences and perspectives of CSOs and media leaders regarding the obstacles encountered by African whistleblowers
* And to discuss best practices around whistleblowing as well recommendations for overcoming these obstacles and promoting a culture of whistleblowing and accountability
By Duncan Mlanjira
All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) Economic Justice Accountability Champion in Malawi, Rev. Baxton Maulidi has arrived in Arusha, Tanzania for the African anti-corruption dialogue organised by the African Union Advisory Board against Corruption (AUABC) that starts tomorrow.
Rev. Maulidi has been recognised by the AUABC for advocating in recent past weeks to Malawian authorities that members of the public should be encouraged on corruption whistleblowing as well as be protected.
AUABC’s 8th annual African anti-corruption dialogue is under the theme; ‘Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight against Corruption’ and according to the programme, Rev. Maulidi’s panel discussion session tomorrow is; ‘State of Play on Whistleblower and Witness Protection Mechanism: Perspectives of Civil Society Organisation’.
It will highlight the experiences and perspectives of CSOs and media leaders regarding the obstacles encountered by African whistleblowers and to discuss best practices around whistleblowing as well recommendations for overcoming these obstacles and promoting a culture of whistleblowing and accountability.
To be moderated by Tafadzwa Chikumbu, executive director of Transparency International of Zimbabwe, Rev. Maulidi will be joined by other panelists — Isheanesu Chirisa (chairperson of Transparency International-Zimbabwe); Marr Nyang (executive director of Gambia Participates); Beauty Emefa Narteh (executive secretary of Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition) and Tawanda Majoni (director for AUAB Information for Development Trust).
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Keynote address will be done by AU Advisory Board Against Corruption chairperson, Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhate to be followed by the first panel discussion themed; ‘Building Strong Foundations: Essentials of Whistleblower and Witness Protection’.
It will be moderated by AU Advisor Board against Corruption Board member, Kwami Edem Senanu, which will discuss the legal framework, institutional structures, and standards required for building effective whistleblower and witness protection mechanisms.
Experts will discuss regional best practices and the need of fostering a welcoming atmosphere for whistleblowers.
The third panel discussion session for the day will be; ‘State of Play on Research and Knowledge on Whistleblower and Witness Protection Mechanism within AU Member States’, to which Malawi belongs.
Its objectives, according to the programme, is aimed at encouraging the exchange of information, data and research outputs as well as knowledge around whistleblowing and witness protection.
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The conference follows theme set in commemorating African Anti-Corruption Day
The panel will highlight the availability of research, data as well as gaps and its impact on the whistleblowing discourse in Africa — to be moderated Paul Banoba, Africa regional advisor for Transparency International secretariat.
Also present there Louis G. Vlavonou, who is member of the National Assembly of Benin and Network of African Parliamentarians against Corruption (APNAC-Afrique).
Friday is for dialogue with national anti-corruption authorities and other State Actors, whose first session is; ‘Domestication of the Provisions of Whistleblower and Witness Protection of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption’.
The session objectives aims to provide a platform for Member States to share experiences on domestication of provisions, which will explore and showcase successful whistleblowing initiatives being undertaken in respective countries.
It will feature discussions on best practices, lessons learned, innovative approaches, and recommendations for strengthening and enhancing whistleblower protection mechanisms.
It will be followed by another session under the same theme, which aims at providing a platform for Member States to share experiences on domestication of provisions — to explore and showcase successful whistleblowing initiatives being undertaken in respective countries.
It will feature discussions on best practices, lessons learned, innovative approaches, and recommendations for strengthening and enhancing whistleblower protection mechanisms — to be moderated by Cheikh Baba Ahmed, AUABC Board member.
The panelists are also high ranking officials — Ghana’s Deputy Inspector General, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria; Cameroon’s National Anti-Corruption Commission member, Jacques Touko Tiako and legal officer-ethics for Anti-Corruption Commission Kenya, Pius Nyoike.
Another session is to facilitate dialogue and collaboration among key players involved in advancing whistleblower protection initiatives in Africa, which Rev. Maulidi has started rolling in Malawi.
It will feature discussions on ways to enhance whistleblower protection, identity opportunities for collective action, and collaboration representatives from governments, media, civil society organisations, and international entities.
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Rev. Maulidi at AACC conference on corruption held recently
From Arusha, Rev. Maulidi said the conference will certainly galvanise him to take a strong stance after the conference to continue advocating and advancing the fight against corruption in Malawi and beyond in his role as AACC’s Economic Justice Accountability Champion in Malawi.
He started talking of whistleblowing on corruption after private practice lawyer, Alexious Kamangila came into the public domain to accuse High Court Judge Kenan Manda and other Judiciary judges and officers of alleged corruption.
He took the stand after Kamangila was deemed by the public that he was being gagged when Justice Manda threatened him with a lawsuit demanding K250 million compensation but the lawyer challenged the judge to go ahead and sue him.
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Alexious Kamangila
This strong will on the part of Kamangila prompted Rev. Maulidi to openly declare that if the fight against corruption is to be achieved, members of the public should be encouraged on whistleblowing and be protected.
It was also after Malawi Law Society (MLS), the coalition of civil societies (CSOs), the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament and the members of the public asking the Judicial Service Commission to investigate the alleged corruption accusations.
The Commission has since rolled out its investigations into the alleged allegations that Kamangila made in the public domain and Rev. Maulidi took note that what Malawi Law Society and the CSOs did, in responding to Kamangila’s allegations, is going to give Malawians more confidence that once they report on cases of corruption, they would be protected against any reprisals.
“Malawians should be encouraged that their identity would be protected as whistleblowers and the authorities should be asked to offer some monetary incentives as a reward for whistleblowers,” said Rev. Maulidi, who is also Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod’s Deputy General Secretary.
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