Thursday 16 July 2009

Corruption Africa’s poisonous apple…

The African continent since the end of colonial rule has been labelled as the failed continent with corrupt leaders. In reality corruption is an issue in every continent and some Western nations do have dip-rooted corrupt structures in their political systems. For instance in the USA and UK, corruption is replaced by sophisticated names such as “lobbyists” or “Party financial donors”. But whatever word is used to refer to corruption, it depicts the dysfunctional nature of a political or institutional system of any country. However, the level of inexcusable corruption in Africa surpasses any where in the world and the effect of it is undeniable. Most African leaders came from a very poor financial and moral background therefore when they are in a position of leadership they tend to concentrate on their personal financial gains and the lack of moral value gives them a sense of entitlement to do that. Corruption is a formulation which is used in so many ways to destabilize a nation by an organisation or state that pays the bribe and Africans should not forget that corruption was instrumental in overthrowing Africa’s greats such as Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba just to mention a few. Nonetheless, corruption the poisonous apple has become a self fulfilling prophesy to greedy minded African leaders who will do anything to get to power and also hold on to power. Whiles in power they spend the money which belongs to the country as if it is their own without any consideration for the people. Disappointingly, what these power and money grabbing leaders fail to do is think beyond the money. Politicians in Africa act with great disregard to their people and pursue acts of bribery and embezzlement without any accountability and the lack of independent organizations to enforce accountability make it easier for politicians and indeed people within higher level of governance.

Subsequently, corruption has crept into the African society as a whole and it has replaced the Africa moral values which edge that working for the good and progressiveness of society as a whole is a good thing for all. Individual Africans in their every day life are either victims or perpetrators of corruption. In other words, corruption has become the standard pattern of behaviour in the African society and in reality selfishness and greed has become the norm to the extent that consciously or unconsciously people are corrupting others and are also being corrupt. I call corruption a poisonous apple because at first instance it looks and taste good but the end is deadly. Corruption is not good for any society and even more dangerously for Africa as it has crippled the continent. Africans are always quick to point fingers at their leaders but what they fail to do is to look within themselves. For corruption to be eradicated, it must start from the root and work it way out to the top of governance because eventually, the people from the top came from the bottom. Therefore, corruption will only become a thing of the past when the African society begins to establish deep rooted values that embrace patriotism and selfless act but which also absolutely frown upon greed and self interest which leads to corruption. Corruption will perish in Africa if well structured institutions are created to hold everyone accountable for their acts or omissions to the society. From laypersons to students and teachers, religious leaders, business personals, the media, the army and the police, lawyers, doctors and nurses and all the way up to Members of parliament, the judiciary, ministers and Head of States, all must bear the cross of eradicating corruption. The various corruption name calling is simply a mediocrity.

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