Hunger and starvation define contemporary Africa, yet the continent is rich in natural resources. Corruption has torn the fabric of moral integrity, promotes impunity, inequality, affects the business environment and worsens outcomes of the poor. Fortunately, there is a way forward, we must stop normalising the fact that many in Africa go without basic provisions such as clean water, nutrition, electricity, warm clothes and access to basic health care. For the sake of accountability, we want to set aside the blame game that sees everything wrong in Africa as directly tied to colonialism and face the reality of the day; the high levels of human suffering seen and experienced by many people in the African continent are a humanmade internal construction that requires internal solutions.
There are many reasons why postcolonial Africa has not, to date, kept to its promises to its citizens – corruption is the main one; it is the grandmaster of Africa’s failings. The corrupt leadership, not colonialism nor imperialism must take responsibility for the type of poverty and unparalleled human lack as experienced in the continent today.
When we gained independence, the black leadership immediately set on the journey to be like the former white masters; leaders put paid to all promises of building institutions that reflected black nations; institutions founded on our traditions, transparency, localism, and integrity. To many young African liberation history students, it might seem the whole fight against colonialism was not because black people believed it was bad, but because they wanted unimpeded access to whatever the white man possessed.
At independence, liberation movements set the tone for corruption to thrive; they removed all checks and balances in how state power was used, misused and abused; they disenfranchised black people according to tribe and political allegiance, replacing and marginalising African institutions with those of the ex-colonial rulers.
Those who headed government institutions saw opportunities for themselves and their allies, not optimal opportunities to build institutions that not only promoted business, but also protected citizens and the environment from the ravages of industrial development and activity. The perfect ground for corruption was set in motion.
Like a hurricane in the right conditions, once it sets off, corruption picks up speed, in no time, it widens its width and extends its reach, swallowing everyone on its path; corruption endangers the morals not just of individuals but of the entire society.
It is a fact that under black leadership, corruption is today the main cause, perpetuating factor and a maintaining factor of poverty and a hindrance to reducing and eliminating it from African society.
The result is a toxic economic, social, and political engagement shaped and propped up by corruption leading to glaring systemic and institutional weaknesses that compromise the business, legal and political environment and diminish all government efforts to alleviate poverty.
We have been caught up in a vortex of corruption, and with every day that passes it seems escape routes are systemically blockaded by state gang leaders, aka government who invest in obscuring pathways to transparency and accountability in society. Every day that passes by under the skies of Africa we experience and/ or witness corruption of one kind or the other, but very few would challenge the behaviour and even fewer would report it; if anything, more often than not we unwillingly participate in it because we have learned that is the only way you get people to do routine duties they are paid to do.
Unfortunately, the pervasive corruption in Africa creates enormous incentives to a host of interest groups in society which explains the lack of motivation in creating and enforcing legislation that will effectively deal with it. There is vested interest in the status quo.
While no one is spared from the devastating effects of corruption, we can argue with high degree of credibility that the rich and powerful elite benefit from it and its negative impact is disproportionately felt by the poorest in society. What we observe is that corruption diverts government spending from projects that benefit vulnerable, low-income people, such as health and education to funding defence and armaments where corruption is rampant.
Governments must be decisive in addressing the pervasive culture of impunity that continues to fuel the corruption pandemic that contributes to violations of human rights and denies victims recourse to justice and effective remedies.
We need to take corrective measures at individual level and prioritise getting rid of the corrupt systems. Corruption does not only exacerbate inequality in society, but it also deepens human suffering to the already vulnerable population groups by undermining efforts to protect them. It interferes with the effective transmission of justice and protection of citizens from illegal activity by state operatives; it leads to ineffective checks and balances within systems and hinders the ability of law agents to carry out their duties impartially.
MTHWAKAZI INDEPENDENT 