Information and communication technology professionals in Mozambique were on Thursday challenged to form professional bodies that would help address the issue of rampant corruption which is said to be threatening the ICT sector.
The call was made by Sean Moroney, the chairman of AITEC Africa at the opening of Mozambique’s first national two-day Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conference in Maputo.
“I humbly suggest that it is time, as the market expands and matures, for ICT professionals in this country to form two professional bodies, not only to fight corruption, but also to address issues of standards, training and professional development,” Moroney said.
He added that he had established from “numerous conversations” with users and vendors in the sector that “bribes are common in the awarding of ICT contracts – even among some of the donor organisations that would be first to condemn African corruption.”
Moroney suggested that the professional body of vendors and service providers could, among others, draw up a code of business ethics which they would subscribe to.
“The association could play other valuable roles, such as lobbying and advising government on legislation and regulations affecting the industry,” he said.
Mozambican Science and Technology minister Venancio Massingue, who officiated the conference, noted that while corruption was a “worldwide problem”, his government had adopted measures to fight the phenomenon.
He gave the example of the establishment the anti-corruption office which was tasked with the investigation of corruption in the public sector.
APA
