CORRUPTION IS SHAMEFUL AND IMMORAL
LAST week I had the pleasure of attending the Southern African Development Community Youth Union meeting in Windhoek.
In many of these meetings, often the most wonderful conversations with our African counterparts are had over the lunch or dinner table.
We spoke about corruption both on the continent and globally and its impact on development and a few interesting observations were made. We noted that in many cases corruption is rationalised as being part of the business and political process and that it has become so pervasive that citizens have been to an extent forced to become numb to the effects of corruption.
Because corruption and its impacts are so difficult to measure, often the conversation is redirected towards elements such as “corruption exists everywhere”, which further sets the tone that for some reason this is what we should live with. The concept of selfless service has also largely dissipated – each of us feels that we first must take care of ourselves before we do our duty to others.
It is also clear that we live with the belief that the winning and maintenance of power is inextricably linked to corrupt activities. Transitions of power are generally poor in nature with most leaders treating resources from a scarcity point of view. Many leaders feel that they have a limited time and adjudging life from this point of scarcity means that there are often wealth accumulation strategies while in office.
A key issue that comes across is where older leaders often do not want to step aside to make space for young people to assume leadership positions and will often use resources available to them to block competitors and young people.
We have also allowed our morality and ethical standards to slip which has allowed corruption and illegality to become entrenched in our daily life.
Bribing a police officer, or illegally downloading music… while these activities may seem minuscule in nature they erode the moral fibre of our society and they teach our children from a young age that it’s okay to do the wrong thing if you can get away with it.
In the search for a more liberal world we must protect our morality and our value systems. We all have a role to play to do the right thing no matter what… because that is how we regrow our moral strength.
Rampant consumerism has played its part well. We are all sold the dream of more and more and more. Bigger cars, better holidays, live more has turned life into a big competition. This winner mentality means that we are no longer trusting the process of development, instead we will cut corners to get what we want today.
Let’s call corruption what it is rather than make excuses for it. It is shameful. It also shows disregard for the costs and consequences of our actions. Let us avoid a culture of narrow self-interest and short-term gain at the expense of everything else. Last week I saw young people, who are hopeful irrespective of the challenges that we face.
They believe in the lofty ideals of a One Africa and inclusive development of our people. Our leaders and all our citizens must now take responsibility for our actions. And that calls for all of us, irrespective of what position we hold in society, calling corruption out for what it is.
We live with the belief that the winning of power is linked to corrupt activities WASEEM CARRIM NYDA chief executive