MEC alleges rampant graft in key ministries

KABUL and labour and social affairs ministries.

Rampant anomalies have been detected in land distribution to refugees, entry test and issuance of educational and retirement documents.

Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC) officials announced their findings at a press conference in Kabul on Monday.

Mohammad Yasin Osmani, a member of the committee, said the probe was based on interviews with public servants, analysts and those who had knowledge of corruption cases in the ministries.

He identified lack of proper procedures, qualified staff, fair treatment and satisfactory salaries for public servants, frequent absenteeism and the absence of a monitoring mechanism as key reasons for corruption in the Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation.

Those involved in graft had been identified, but legal restrictions barred disclosure of their identities, the MEC member said.

A proper procedure for staff accountability, appointing professional workers and computerising the bureaucratic system could help reduce corruption in government institutions, the committee suggested.

Yama Turabi, another member of the committee, said lack of standard curriculum for students, meddling from public representatives and high-level officials in the process of entry exams and weak control of university administration fuelled corruption in the higher education ministry.

MEC Chairman Drago Kos said those seeking retirement had to take signatures from 60 employees of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The applicants are compelled to pay 100 to 500 afghanis in bribe for each signature.

He alleged individuals in key positions did not want to change the rotten bureaucratic order into a modern, responsive and service-oriented system.

mrh/mud

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