Date Of Article: 12/2/2002
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Travel group, ACBwarn on kickbacks
By: Ayam Maeresa
A travel agents group has said some people assigned to do bookings on behalf of their firms are demanding kickbacks in exchange for business deals . Travel Agents Association of Malawi, in a joint statement with the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), issued in Lilongwe yesterday said the practice is rife among officers in the private and public sectors as well as non governmental and international organisations. The association said this is usually done without the knowledge of employers. “We wish to strongly warn those involved, both agents and the public, to stop this malpractice, otherwise if found severe action shall be taken that might result in the withdrawal of licences and criminal prosecution,” said the association. The group said people arranging travel for staff in their companies or government agencies go round pretending to get quotations when they are actually trying to get an agent willing to give them a cut. The group said some travel agents have fallen prey to this kind of corruption and giving between two to five percentages of their commissions. Agents receive money from airlines, hotels, car hires and tour operators in form of commissions for services offered to the public under an International Air Travel Agency (IATA) agreement. It said any discounting by an agent to anyone not registered under IATA is illegal and prohibited under the agency’s agreement. The ACB said seeking favours or promising offers as a reward for giving business deals is a crime under the Corrupt Practices Act and carries a minimum jail term of five years.
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