Whistleblowers not traitors, protect them – ACC chief

By NATION REPORTR

MONICA Mwansa, the acting Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says whistleblower protection is a fundamental requirement and powerful tool in combating graft.
Ms Mwansa says when a whistleblower mechanism is well-designed and implemented, it would encourage individuals within organisations or systems to report corrupt practices, unethical or illegal practices without fear of retaliation or getting victimised.
She said this during a virtual presentation on “Effective Whistleblower Protection Mechanism: A Critical tool in the fight against Corruption” during the 8th Africa Anti-Corruption Dialogue of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption held in Arusha, Tanzania.
This is according to a statement issued yesterday by Timothy Moono, the ACC head of corporate communication.
Ms Mwansa said whistleblowers around the world played a powerful role in challenging corruption, transnational crime, and environmental destruction.
“Whistleblowers also play a major role in fighting other unethical behaviour in both public and private institutions. Whistleblowers are critical in ensuring that organisations and public institutions assume their responsibility towards society,” Ms Mwansa said.
She said in the process of whistleblowing, individuals face a number of challenges that range from reprisals and retaliation, legal suits, financial strain arising from loss of employment, personal threats, harassment and social stigma as they are viewed as traitors.
“These also culminate into emotional and psychological stress. Whistleblower protection has been recognised both at international, continental and region level that it is a fundamental requirement and should be legislated by nations across the globe,” Ms Mwansa said.
She said the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) provided a global framework for addressing corruption and highlights the importance of protecting whistleblowers as part of its anti-corruption strategy.
Ms Mwansa said Article 33 of the UNCAC specifically provided for the protection of whistleblowers.
She said the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption provided for whistleblower protection under Article 5.
Ms Mwansa said Zambia, as a party to the international laws, had domesticated the protection of whistleblowers with the enactment of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act No. 4 of 2010.
She said the law provided for disclosure of information and the protection of Whistleblowers in both public and private sectors.
Ms Mwansa said efforts currently under way to strengthen the law to provide adequate protection of whistleblowers.