There is no easy definition of corruption. The word ‘corruption’ is itself often used as an omnibus term to describe inordinate economic and political practices that benefit those involved.1 When narrowly defined, it is often used to characterize the misuse of public resources by government officials for private ends, thus leaving out corruption in the private sector. The fact that the UN Convention Against Corruption (2003) and the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (2003) do not attempt to thoroughly define corruption is illustrative of the challenge of crafting a widely acceptable definition.
However, unlike the UN and AU corruption Conventions, the SADC Protocol Against Corruption (2001) attempts a more comprehensive definition. It considers corruption as including ‘bribery and other behaviors in relation to persons entrusted with responsibilities in the public and private sectors… aimed at obtaining undue advantage of any kind for themselves and others.’3 The definition of corruption under the SADC Protocol is preferable as it goes beyond the conventional definition of corruption as a misuse of public office for private ends, to include corruption in the private sector. Corruption in this Handbook, is therefore, conceived broadly, to cover both the public and private sectors.
