Is graft the block to inclusive growth?

Inclusive growth moves the most vulnerable ahead in terms of their employability. This is beyond the measure of free handouts that do not enhance productivity. For example, putting in a place a scheme where most informal workers or subsistence farmers have decent jobs and be in a position to fend for themselves. We seem to be far from it, but can one think that the reason is due to how corrupted our society has become? For the naysayers, the tune is the same. Give me evidence,

Some years ago, some politician made headlines by claiming that we are all corrupt in this country. We also decided to establish an anti-corruption agency that is systematically short-changed and draws mixed results. Sadly, prisons are for chicken thieves and the poor. Some would call it a self-fulfilling prophecy but it was more metaphorical. Now we have a new “gate” involving the deadly “magawagawa” syndrome whose resources are being tactfully put in white envelopes. A sign of peace or surrender to the war of corruption? Bring back the khaki envelopes please. Who is crippling the corruption fight?

The intellectual side, however, of the “we all are corrupt line” give us further understanding in how we define corruption. For instance, the Corrupt Practices Act, under which the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has carried its mandate, with varying degrees of success, is quite clear on specifics of this vice.  Simply one would think corruption is some way of gaining undue advantage to one’s gratification   through crooked means. But other aspects are not very clear just like our tendency to say thank you with a monetary gift for a service we have duly paid for. Tipping in the third world?  Now the weak ACB, despite promises that more resources will be given to its work of fighting the corruption pathogen has its staff threatening a strike. Give them new Toyota Corollas as the current ones have already clocked 150 000 kilometres.

Since the ACB was established some years ago, we have often been very critical of its success, and many have linked it to a machine for oppressing political opponents or a publicity stunt minded organisation that has successfully prosecuted “$20 bribe” suspects. It could be true, but each one make own judgements. The record is there for all to see.  Nonetheless, we continue to view the ACB from the perspective of who committed a particular corruption-related crime, and how we define the offence. Could it be that this institution is  deliberately and systematically short-changed so that it is preoccupied with offences of the poorest, that do not cost the taxpayer any tambala?

Our society, however, has loads of corruption that we have let go and considered as a normal, and it is beyond the domain of any prosecuting agency to fight. Maybe someone was right to argue the fact we are all corrupt. And those that have exercised   control over leadership have fully taken advantage and the in the process we seem to forget   the roles of an elected government. I contend that using tax payer funds under the guise of personal resources to offer certain public services or social protection is corruption. It is even worse when one’s wealth does not add up.

In this day we still glorify some alleged philanthropists that go on the podium dishing all sorts of things   to vulnerable people. There used to be some gentleman or lady, can’t remember which one, that used to go around the country with a truck load of maize and some K50 bills distributing to “his  or her people”. Sometimes huge cheques were given out to fund a particular project of some kind. Surrogates similarly run nocturnal errands in suburbs and villages with khaki envelops of different sizes, to corrupt minds of the vulnerable on election day. The trend has never stopped and all “alumni” of the thuggery school have behaved no different since 1994. This is a form of corruption that is not within the practical reach of the ACB but nonetheless, it is and we must stop it through relevant legislation.

It is corruption in the sense, that the average person is manipulated with a veil of philanthropy in the form of “platform benefits”. But the real catch   remains the intent to influence voting behaviour for one’s political benefit using tax payer funds or even personal funds. Any act that is meant to deliberately deceive, such as giving some benefits to a vulnerable person in return for a vote is no different from a clinician sedating their patients to commit a crime.

Now that we head toward   elections, we can as well reflect on the law of asset declaration. Some soul searching is required.   The law on political party funding is almost non-existent. It is time that we enact a law that puts limits on how much money individuals or businesses can give to a political party. If political parties can get millions from individuals, one can expect that in power they will somehow clandestinely pay such donors using tax payers’ money in   ways not in the interest of public finances and taxpayers. n