The cost of corruption and poor governance
CORRUPTION has reached astronomical proportions. It can simply be defined as an immoral and dishonest exploitation of power for personal gain and a betrayal of public trust.
Corruption is the greatest single bane of our society today. It is a major affront to democracy, as it sequestrates the wealth meant for the public good into the hands of the corrupt. It promotes indolence and greed and worsens mass poverty.
A fight against corruption is therefore an important avenue for consolidating democracy. Corruption is motivated by disrespect of oneself. It is a sign of weakness. It is self-destructive because in a just, moral society, people who commit crimes and dishonest immoral acts are punished by the legal, justice system.
There is an axiom often applied to those with political ambitions: power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
In this case, the term “corruption” means the abuse of a public office for personal gain or other illegal or immoral benefit. Political corruption is a recognised criminal offence, along with bribery, extortion and embezzlement.
Our bankruptcy bears witness to destruction by one-party rule. Two decades of unchecked corruption and incompetent governance have come to a head, as the accumulated debts of a government willing to buy votes from the non-productive at the expense of the productive fall upon a dwindling populace too poor, dependent or stubborn to flee.
Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermines the government’s ability to provide basic services and discourages foreign investment and aid. We must ponder as our beloved rainbow nation stares into the abyss.