‘It’s up to business to root out corruption’

Business must take responsibility for rooting out corruption and bribery by not giving in to fraudulent practices, says political analyst and commentator Harald Pakendorf. “Corruption has many forms but we must not forget it needs two entities: the corrupter and the corruptee. If you are the one paying the bribe then you are as guilty as the one taking the money.” Whether it’s straightforward bribery where money is put on the table to fast-track goods through a border post or to get an official to look the other way or more complex situations of extortion, the only way to root out corruption is for private entities to no longer tolerate it and participate in it. “Only when those taking the bribes are apprehensive and realise they can go to jail and there is no gain will we bring an end to it.” He said it was necessary for the environment in which business was operating to change. “It must be unacceptable to accept a bribe, but also to pay it.”