• Members of the public who have cooperated in pinpointing possible acts of
corruption in public organisations are provided legal protection. The FEACC
stepped in to revoke administrative revenge measures against 50 whistleblowers
in the public service.
• Investigation of 445 alleged corruption cases and 200 referred for prosecution.
• Anti-corruption seminars and ethics education for 10,264 participants from
regional and federal public services.
• Dissemination of anti-corruption messages, and posters and brochures in print
and electronic media.
• Conduct of 52 pre-audit and management studies as part of its proactive mission
to discourage corruption.
• Follow-up action on the recommended implementation of systems and
procedures to discourage corruption in the public service.
II.
Findings of the CRM
217
The CRM notes varying opinions among stakeholders about the existence
and magnitude of corruption in Ethiopia. In spite of their disagreements, the
stakeholders agree that corruption is a major problem requiring collective action
by all strata of Ethiopian state and society. Sources of corruption were generally
identified as tax collection, the police, extreme poverty, and poor governance at
wereda administration levels.
218
However, the CRM notes that the Ethiopian Government has zero-tolerance
for corruption and is aggressively leading the anti-corruption crusade, which it
has also linked to civil service reforms. To this end, as the CRM found out, the
government prosecuted and secured sentencing of indicted individuals found
guilty in high profile corruption court cases. The FEACC, for example, has
secured jail sentences, ranging from eight months to eighteen years, for 100
public officials against whom it filed corruption lawsuits.
219
The CRM also noted concern about FEACC’s independence. While it was not in
a position to verify opposition party allegations of bias against FEACC, the CRM
believes that government should initiate national dialogue on how to strengthen
FEACC institutional structures to win acceptance across the political spectrum.
220
The CRM finds it a healthy and confidence-building development that the
Ethiopian Government initiated legislation - the Asset Registration Bill adopted by
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