Photo: Transparency International
Perceptions of corruption across Africa: The darker
the red, the more corrupt a country is perceived to be, with those
marked in yellow hues judged less corrupt.
TANZANIA is among the least corrupt countries in the region, according to the global corruption index released yesterday.
The 2018 Corruption
Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI)
places Tanzania at position 99 out of 180 countries ranked in the index.
This is equivalent to 36 points amassed by the East African nation, in the index by the global corruption watchdog.
Tanzania is only
behind its East African neighbour Rwanda which scored 56 points out of a
possible 100, ranking 48 in the index that draws on 13 surveys and
expert assessments to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries
and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100
(very clean).
The index indicates that Tanzania is now witnessing a sharp decline in graft levels.
The East African
nation's performance in the index comes as no surprise, as since
assuming the top most office in 2015, President John Pombe Magufuli has
been on the forefront in his anti-corruption efforts that has resulted
in the sacking of several civil servants who allegedly forged academic
certificates, and the arrest of key players involved in the economic
scandal, moves viewed by many as a sign of progress in his agenda to
address corruption.
TI however cautions
that the continued failure of most countries to significantly control
corruption is contributing to a crisis of democracy around the world.
"With many
democratic institutions under threat across the globe - often by leaders
with authoritarian or populist tendencies - we need to do more to
strengthen checks and balances and protect citizens' rights," said
Patricia Moreira, TI Managing Director.
South Sudan, the
world's youngest nation has been ranked as the most corrupt country in
East Africa, accumulating a mere 13 points, tailing the region at number
149.
Following closely
is Burundi which also features among the bottom ten most corrupt
countries, collecting 17 points at number 170.
Kenya comes third
at number 144, amassing a total of 27 points out of a possible 100,
while Uganda scored 26 points and ranks position 149.
Denmark and New
Zealand top the Index with 88 and 87 points, respectively. Somalia,
South Sudan, and Syria are at the bottom of the index, with 10, 13 and
13 points, respectively.
"Our research makes a clear link between having a healthy democracy and successfully fighting public sector corruption.
"Corruption is much
more likely to flourish where democratic foundations are weak and, as
we have seen in many countries, where undemocratic and populist
politicians can use it to their advantage," added Delia Ferreira Rubio,
TI chairperson.
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