EVERY PUBLIC SERVANT IS A SOLDIER OF INTEGRITY

 

Adeladius Makwega

President’s Office – National Archives and Records Management Department, Dodoma

 

“The fight against corruption is not a war in which we can simply lay down our weapons; it is a battle that must be fought by each and every one of us, wherever we are. Whether junior or senior, we are all in this fight.”

These powerful words were delivered by Mr. Salum Kyando, Director of the Department of Honouring the Founders of the Nation, Libraries and Museums of the Former Presidents of the United Republic of Tanzania, under the President’s Office – National Archives and Records Management Department, while highlighting the responsibility of every public servant in the fight against corruption in Tanzania.

Corruption often begins with something that may appear small. It could be money offered to obtain a service more quickly, a gift given to secure preferential treatment, a promise intended to influence a decision, or even a request for favour that initially appears harmless. Yet behind such an act lies a much greater danger: the undermining of justice, procedures and integrity.

 

Within the field of Records and Archives, this challenge can arise in various forms. For example, an individual may wish to obtain a particular record for personal reasons. Instead of following the established procedures, that person may attempt to influence the officer responsible for the records by offering money, gifts or other benefits.

 

“...to obtain a particular record, a person may use a bribe to influence the officer responsible for providing it. This is where the giving and receiving of bribes can enter our world and our profession.”

 

This statement highlights an important principle of public service: an officer responsible for records must be a guardian of integrity, not a gateway for corruption. The records under an officer’s care are not personal property. They form part of the national and institutional heritage. Their access and use must therefore be guided by laws, regulations and established procedures, rather than by an individual’s ability to offer money or gifts.

 

However, corruption is not limited to access to records. Public institutions also provide various services to contractors and other stakeholders, including security services, cleaning services and construction contracts. In such areas, competition can sometimes create temptations to seek opportunities through unlawful means.

 

As Director Kyando observes:

“Indeed, today’s world is highly competitive. Everyone may want that opportunity; but how does one obtain it? This is where the issue of corruption can arise.”

This question challenges us to look beyond who gives or receives a bribe. It calls upon us to consider the systems we establish to ensure that competition remains fair and that opportunities are provided according to established criteria.

 

 

The same challenge can arise in employment-related opportunities such as official travel, training, seminars and workshops. Such opportunities should be provided based on qualifications, work requirements and established procedures. When they are turned into instruments of personal favour, they can create opportunities for corruption through money, gifts or even sexual bribery.

 

That is why the fight against corruption cannot be the responsibility of one individual. It requires every public servant to look within and ask: “What do I do when I encounter an attempt to bribe me? Do I reject it? Do I report it? Or do I remain silent?”

 

Change begins with that personal reflection.

An officer who performs duties in accordance with laws, regulations and procedures becomes part of the protection of the institution. An officer who rejects money, gifts or promises intended to influence a decision builds a barrier against corruption. And an officer who reports suspected acts of corruption helps prevent the problem from spreading.

 

 

Transparency also plays an important role in this fight. Procedures for accessing services or records, the criteria applied and the applicable costs should be clear and understandable. Where procedures are transparent, opportunities for individuals to use money or influence to obtain preferential treatment are reduced.

 

Within the Records and Archives profession, strong records-control systems are equally important. Applications, authorisations, issuance and return of records should be properly documented and traceable. Effective controls help ensure that records are not unlawfully released, altered or misused.

 

However, systems alone are not enough. There is also a need to continuously build a culture of integrity. Public servants must be regularly reminded of the dangers of corruption and their responsibility to protect the reputation of their institution and profession. For this reason, education on corruption prevention and the fight against corruption should remain a continuous agenda in departmental meetings, rather than becoming a topic of discussion only after a problem has occurred.

 

In emphasising the importance of integrity, Director Kyando also referred to religious teachings on corruption. The Holy Qur’an, in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:188, states:

 

“And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, nor offer it to the authorities in order that you may knowingly consume a portion of the wealth of others sinfully.”

 

The Bible also condemns bribery. Exodus 23:8 states:

“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.”

 

These teachings, together with legal and institutional frameworks, emphasise one fundamental principle: integrity is a personal responsibility. The law may establish procedures and institutions may establish systems, but ultimately, it is an individual who makes the decision to accept or reject corruption.

 

For a Records and Archives professional, that decision carries particular significance. The records under our care form part of the history of the nation. When we protect them with integrity, we protect more than records; we protect history, the right of access to information, institutional reputation and public trust.

An officer who accepts a bribe to release records or provide a service contrary to established procedures does not harm himself or herself alone. Such conduct can cast a shadow over the entire institution and weaken the trust that citizens have placed in public institutions.

 

That is why the fight against corruption must begin with the positions we hold, the responsibilities we perform and the decisions we make every day. We should not wait for someone else to begin. We should not wait until the problem becomes serious. Each one of us can begin today.

 

Let us reject illegal payments. Let us reject favouritism. Let us reject abuse of authority. Let us choose transparency, fairness, accountability and integrity.

Ultimately, corruption is not merely about money. It is about trust. It is about dignity. It is about how we want our institutions to be remembered by future generations.

 

And for a profession entrusted with preserving the records of the nation, that responsibility cannot be taken lightly.

 

“Fighting corruption within the Records and Archives profession is not the responsibility of one person alone; it is the responsibility of every public servant to ensure that records are protected, accessed fairly, and services are provided with integrity, without favouritism or bribery.”

 

Therefore, corruption has no place in a public service founded on integrity. The fight against corruption begins with me, continues with you, and becomes stronger when we all work together.

 

Every public servant is a soldier of integrity. And every day we choose to do what is right, we strengthen the fight against corruption.

 

Email: makwadeladius@gmail.com
Phone: +255 717 649 257