Take control over corruption in society and politics

Corruption has become endemic in our society; conmen have become national leaders the public has little choice but to look up to; it is a curse to the most vulnerable who out of desperation find themselves having to comply and normalise it just to get by – be it registering births and deaths, replacing damaged essential documents, accessing opportunities to better their lives, etc. Corruption has been imputed to many members of our society, we are fast losing our common sense, common honesty and common decency.

Far from what many ZANU PF politicians would like us to believe, government failures are not simply due to external threats, not just Western interference in Africa’s affairs, but more a function of internal weakness, corruption, and a failure to manifest the values and ideals they espouse.

When the last generation fought against colonial rule and for independence in Zimbabwe, they were not fighting White people but an ideology they espoused and the injustice it represented; they truly believed they were fighting for the establishment of government systems and institutions that would be better prepared to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights. They expected a government that would, itself, be better protected against degeneracy, yet here we are 45 years into ‘independence’ facing a calamitous reality in which those entrusted with power have gradually perverted it into tyranny.

Government has been turned into a private and family enterprise diverting national resources for personal enrichment schemes. Communities have not only been turned against each other, but they have been turned into personal assets of those in power who own and control the biggest corporations, own the best and largest land, own literally everything. We have become their subjects and yielded all power to them.

But that curse can be broken, and the most effective means by which that can be achieved is educating the public. Our political system must be built through an open society that encourages sharing of information and is intentional in its reduction and eventual eradication of a pervasive less informed constituency. We must promote and protect a safe and progressive environment for debate to increase access to solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, abuse manifests, corruption, subjugation and indignation reign.

Let us educate tribalism out of the minds of the general population. In a political environment where ethnic Shona people have created a tribal hierarchy that sees Shona people at the apex with everyone else placed at the bottom, a huge part of the constituency is restricted and marginalised from participating in what should be a national discourse. We must educate the public, so tribal loyalties are not prioritised over merit and competence.

No one should get a sense of importance based just on tribal identifiers that represent expressions of prejudice that elicit negative evaluations, dehumanisation, and discrimination of certain population groups. No one’s value truly appreciates because they have managed to sufficiently demean, deny and suppress others from achieving their capabilities.  

In broader scheme of things, the poor are exposed to similar barriers from the rich and powerful regardless of their tribe; they have on their necks, the heavy boot of those in power; the political elite views the public as disposable and despises the average person – people are perceived as essential tools that enable politician’s power and corruption.

Strong safeguards must be built around power, so it is protected from abuse by opportunists. The ZANU PF government has demonstrated that power attracts pathological personalities, it is magnetic to the corruptible in society. Instead of being desensitized to corruption, we need to appeal to the highest moral standards in our social conscience, refuse to normalise corrupt conduct by public officials and the political elite. Corruption must be called out for the immorality that it represents in our communities. We must review and recreate laws to ensure the protections they give to citizens are equal and fair and that the noose is tightened around those who partake in corruption.

It will be crucial to establish robust systems of checks and balances, promote transparency and accountability, and empower civil society. This will involve fostering independent judiciary, strengthening anti-corruption agencies, and encouraging public participation in holding those in power accountable. 

Everyone is susceptible to corruption, and it is easy for corruption to spiral out of control, become the standard of operation in a society and take over control from anyone trying to fight it. We are always a few corruption scandals away from corruption becoming systemic, and when it does, it endangers institutions and the welfare of society. Even more worrying, it undermines and becomes resistant to the very anti-corruption strategies deployed to fight it. Dealing with entrenched corruption requires targeted efforts, system-sensitive choices, and an emphasis on ‘social empowerment’.