PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CORRUPTION PREVENTION
The primary function of Public Education and Corruption Prevention is to educate, enlist and foster public support in the fight against corruption thereby soliciting their support in combating corruption and also to examine systems and procedures of both public and private bodies with a view of identifying gaps which may be opportunities for corrupt practices and come up with strategies to closing those gaps.
In adherence to this function the division has divided its programmes in the following target groups: public servants, members of the public, business community and youth.
Public Servants Campaigns: the division sensitises public officers in the government on corruption issues and thereafter establishes the systems Integrity Committees (SICs) which are the internal control mechanisms to ensure that laws and regulations are adhered to.
General Public Campaigns: the division also carries out public gatherings whereby the members of the public are sensitized about the evils of corruption and encouraged to join the fight against it through establishment of the District Anti-Corruption Committees (DACCs). The main function of DACCs is to ensure that services rendered to the public are free from corruption.
Business Community Campaigns: Business Action Against Corruption (BAAC) which is meant for the business community has been set up to ensure that business transactions adhere to the rules and regulations set.
Schools Anti-Corruption Programme: this is a programme for the youth in schools; from primary, secondary, high school to Tertiary/ University level. The objective of this initiative is to instill in the youth, the moral values at a tender age, to create citizens of integrity who shun corruption and to help them have a positive impact within their communities.
Research: The main function is to identify and define corruption problems scientifically through research and suggest practical ways of addressing them.
The office conducts periodic research activities in both public and private sectors.
This they do through clubs called Students Integrity Associations (SIAs) meant for members to share experiences and ideas on how to influence their peers positively. The activities they engage in include essay writing, debate, drama, poetry, music, impromptu speech, quiz and art.
The division aspires and intends to influence incorporation of corruption concepts in to the national school curriculum.
ACTIVITIES
Prevention of corruption
The Ministry of Health craved to engage a South African company called Liselo Labs to provide Covid 19 tests. The company wanted to charge the Government of Lesotho between M350 and M500 per test beginning with 50 people. The process of engaging Liselo Lab did not follow procurement procedure, therefore the DCEO stopped Ministry of Health to proceed with the process since there was a red flag due to the fact that the said company will take Basotho coffers as it was supposed to chunk the country M18 million for 50,000 tests. The proposal was canned.
