Malawi

BAAC Malawi Holds Symposium

The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Malawi chapter of Business Action Against Corruption organized a half day business symposium on 22nd September 2011 at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre, Malawi. The symposium, whose theme was ‘The National Anti-Corruption Strategy; Key Factors and Implications for Business Practice’ attracted participants from the business community including the media and the general public.

Participants at the symposium were led through discussions on the role of the private sector in implementing the country’s anti-corruption strategy. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for Malawi was launched in 2008 and the business community has been tasked to fight corruption in their respective institutions through establishment of structures and systems for corruption prevention and reporting.

The MCCCI has played a big role in consolidating efforts by various players within its membership while BAAC Malawi served as a platform for collective engagement in the fight against corruption. The ACB has continued to provide policy guidance relating to the cause.

Speaking at the symposium, the Chairman of MCCCI Mr. Matthews Chikankheni observed that corruption remains one of the biggest challenges to be fought despite the country’s commitment to zero tolerance against corruption. The Director of ACB, Mr. Alexious Nampota, bemoaned the ‘culture of silence’ in the private sector to report corruption. He urged companies to establish ethics offices within their institutions to lead in prevention and dealing with corruption cases, such as reporting corruption. The ACB Director further encouraged BAAC to expand membership to Small and Medium Enterprises.

Speaking for Malawi BAAC, the Country Director of the African institute of Corporate Citizenship Daisy Kambalame-Kalima briefed participants on the role of BAAC as a business sector platform for fighting corruption. She emphasized the need for members and all participants to contribute ideas on how best BAAC can serve them. At the end of the symposium, participants reviewed the role of the private sector as suggested by the Anti-Corruption Strategy during which they reflected on progress and ideas for new programs and strategies.

About BAAC Malawi

BAAC was launched in Malawi in 2006 and is hosted by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC). The AICC is an NGO established in 2001 to promote sustainable business practice in Africa. In Malawi, AICC acts as a secretariat for companies in various industries to combat corruption and aims to facilitate the competitiveness of countries, companies, and communities through responsible business activity.

A new National Code of Conduct has been developed and endorsed by government and the private sector and is being implemented across the country. BAAC Malawi is developing a Rating Framework in conjunction with the Society of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (SOCAM) which will provide a standardised corruption rating tool against which different organisations can be monitored and compared in a consistent way to ensure that there are tangible benefits pertaining to the Code of Conduct. BAAC Malawi is also driving a capacity building programme for ethics officers in the country.

BAAC binds its members to certain ethical standards and provides a range of programs to enable member companies and their representatives effectively deal with corruption. The initiative also engages with the relevant development partners as well as the Malawian political and public sector.

BAAC Malawi members are:

1. Chemicals and Marketing company limited
2. Eastern Produce Malawi Limited
3. Ethanol
4. Farmers Organisation
5. Food Products
6. Institute of Internal Auditors
7. KPMG
8. Makandi Tea Estates
9. Malawi Bureau of Standards
10. Malawi Telecommunications Limited
11. Maldeco Fisheries Limited
12. Malswitch
13. Monsanto
14. Multichoice
15. Musco
16. National Bank
17. Press Corporation Limited
18. Press Properties
19. Press Trust
20. NASFAM
21. Roads Fund Administration
22. Southern Bottlers
23. First Merchant Bank
24. Rab Processors
25. SOCAM
26. Illovo
27. Agricultural Resources Limited
28. Air Malawi
29. Blantyre City Assembly
30. Cheetah Malawi Limited
31. Sue Ryder International
32. Safe-tech
33. Horizon Farming
34. Opportunity International Bank of Malawi
35. Deloitte/Tipp-Offs Anonymous

BAAC Malawi provides a range of services to its members including:

• Corporate social responsibility and anti-corruption training.
• Face to face consultation to improve their business processes.
• Development of tools such as the 'Rating Framework on Anti-Corruption' (to be released mid 2010).
• Developing case studies of successful projects to share with other members.
• Promoting effective whistle-blowing procedures.
• Representation of the initiative, both nationally and regionally.
• Liaising with important players from the public sector and civil society.
• Maintaining strong relationships with the anti-corruption bureau in Malawi.
• Promoting the national anti-corruption strategy in Malawi.