AUC chairperson decries corruption in Africa

The African Union on Saturday decried the high levels of corruption in the continent.

African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told journalists in Nairobi that corruption erodes confidence of citizens on their governments.

"It denies the government resources it requires to provide essential social services such as education and health," Dlamini-Zuma said during the AU Executive Council Retreat.

Dlamini-Zuma said that corruption is partly caused by the values that are prevalent in the continent.

"We tend to emulate those who engage in conspicuous consumption. These kinds of lifestyles cannot be maintained on normal salaries and therefore people resort to corrupt practices," she added.

The chairperson noted that citizens should be inculcated with the right values that promote societal well being.

She noted that some African countries have made strides in the fight against the vice.

"They have enacted strict laws against corruption which are enforced regardless of the status of the persons committing the crime," she said.

The AUC official noted that corruption has contributed to the high levels of poverty in the continent. "It is a paradox that Africa is resource rich but its citizens are poor," she said. Endit