Concerns have arisen regarding the validity of lifestyle audits proposed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) aimed at combating corruption in both public and private sectors. To support this initiative, the ACB has created a Lifestyle Audit Manual that is pending Cabinet approval. Solicitor General and Secretary for Justice Allison Mbangombe stated that while the Cabinet committee on legal affairs has accepted the manual, it still requires full Cabinet endorsement.
Mbangombe emphasized the importance of the manual in addressing corruption, often perpetrated between willing parties, thus complicating proof of wrongdoing. He highlighted that Section 32 of the Corrupt Practices Act (CPA) currently applies only to public officials, while the lifestyle audits would extend to the private sector. However, private practice lawyer Justin Dzonzi criticized this expansion, pointing out that unless the CPA is amended, the manual risks creating confusion by targeting individuals not covered under existing laws.
Others, like the Centre for Social Transparency and Accountability’s Willy Kambwandira, argue that existing laws are sufficient for combating corruption and lament the lack of political will to address the issue. Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence called for the policy but expressed concern that delays may indicate governmental apprehension about potential repercussions for current officials. The ACB did not provide immediate comments on these developments.
