Taking a stand against corruption

Taking a stand against corruption
By The Post
Mon 24 Oct. 2011, 09:00 CAT

WHEN we said Rupiah Banda had no will to fight corruption because of his involvement in the vice, it was not out of hatred. What we hated was his way of doing things. Whenever Rupiah spoke against corruption, it was just all about posturing. To him it was just a political game. Rupiah's regime had drowned deep into corruption.

The latest revelations are just a tip of the iceberg. The MMD's election campaign and the excessive spending on materials was enough to prove that all was not well in the country. For instance, they bought thousands of bicycles, so many that they even failed to distribute them all before the elections. That is why some officials are still being found with hundreds bicycles as though they were about to enrol the country for the Tour de France.

Rupiah's government had webbed itself so much in wrongdoing that it was beyond the reach of the law. The rampant financial indiscipline had crept to all sectors of government.

Political leadership plays a critical role in shaping the destiny of the country, it plays a critical role in deciding what matters most for the people, the ordinary poor. A leadership whose priorities are misplaced will frustrate all attempts at reforming the country and pay lip-service to social reforms such as fighting corruption. Such a leadership will take an ambiguous approach to eradicating corruption. Unfortunately the signal sent out by Rupiah in fighting corruption to the people who are responsible for overseeing crucial aspects of our expenditure inhibited them from performing their duties efficiently. They knew they were fighting a losing battle.

Therefore, we are not surprised that our Auditor General Anna Chifungula is elated and energised by President Michael Sata's pronouncements on the fight against corruption.

Chifungula has clearly shown how frustrating it was for her officers to fight the abuse of resources because their audit reports were never acted upon.

"I'm actually elated and very energised because it is very frustrating, especially for my officers. They go out and do the work then at the end of the day they see nothing being done and even laughed at. Some of them who are unfortunate they are even threatened, beaten up and nothing gets done," said Chifungula. "But with that kind of political will, I think that's one we need and it has come at the right time. We are very happy for these changes. I'm sure a lot of people had despondency but they are seeing the action that is being taken because actions really speak louder than words. I'm very pleased, I'm very happy for this government."

These words are coming from a person who is not new to fighting corruption. She knows the difference between the existence of political will in the corruption fight and the non-existence of that will. She has now held the office of Auditor General under three presidents. She knows which president or presidents had the will to fight corruption. And clearly she has seen the difference between Rupiah and Michael's approach. Michael has just given the fight against corruption a lifeline, a fresh breath. Clearly that lack of political will in the Rupiah government showed how they found political office to be the shortest route to amassing personal wealth.

They did not see anything wrong in acquiring more flags, enough to place on every dead street light in the country, than buying a bulb which is far cheaper to light the country's streets. To them that was normal.

However, the country will not go anywhere if the fight against corruption is left to Michael alone. We all have to move from the terraces and become actively involved in it because it is for our own good. All the political players in this country have to make a decision and choose where they want to be. It is either they are with the corrupt or the fighters of corruption. Those who are with the corrupt will frustrate every move to make the corrupt accountable. Those who are with the corrupt will use whatever numbers they have to put their voices behind the corrupt. Those who are fighting corruption will seek justice, they will make sure that those who have deprived the poor of the much needed social services are made to account for their deeds.

It is our hope that even our members of parliament will use the power of the people that has been vested in them for the good of humanity. That power should not be used to shield the corrupt from explaining how they managed the resources of this country. That power should not be a source of arrogance at the expense of social justice and good. That power should be used to defeat evil, to bring happiness to the people. It should be used to make sure that plundered resources are reclaimed and allocated to provision of social services such as healthcare and education. It is important that those in power realise that leadership is about service and they should not compromise themselves.

Probing and punishing those who are corrupt is not vengeance. Asking someone to account for their deeds is not a witch-hunt. It is human nature to want to avoid punishment or pain - even the corrupt will not want to be punished. When the whip is cracked on them they will cry and scream victimatisation, vengeance, witch-hunt and so forth. But should that be the basis of avoiding such an important task of making people accountable for their deeds? Definitely not!

The task of building a decent society is for everyone. The will to fight corruption should not just end at Michael.

We all have a duty and responsibility to develop this country and only we can do so. We will get all the financial aid we need but as long as we do not have integrity, a sense of honesty and justice, we will not achieve much; we will be going backwards in very long strides.

We should all take a stand against corruption.