Corruption: a stubborn hydra-headed monster

In the past week, corruption reared its ugly head again in internal elections of CCM. It was much like the ‘good old days’ when those who didn’t have enough money to grease the palms of corruption-inclined voters wouldn’t even consider standing for an elected position in the party. This time round, though, the hydra-headed monster was tackled head-on by the authorities, led by President John Pombe Magufuli.

Some top party cadres – including the outgoing party Youth Wing chairman Sadifa Juma Khamis, and the parliamentary aspirant for Singida North, Haider Hussein Gulamali – were apprehended by anti-corruption agents for alleged corrupt practices. President Magufuli, who is also the ruling party’s chairman – must’ve been closely following the developments. Addressing Youth Wing members prior to their elections last Sunday, he admitted that corruption remains a major problem within CCM – and solemnly vowed to eradicate it. There was an aura of anger and sadness in President Magufuli’s tone as he addressed the issue of corruption that day. The same tone was noticed when, late last month, Magufuli ‘unearthed’ dozens of imported ambulances and other vehicles which had overstayed at the Dar port.

A visibly disappointed president publicly berated some ministers and the police inspector-general for failing to tackle corruption head-on in their respective workplaces. President Magufuli’s frustration over continued corruption within his party and the government is understandable. He dedicated his first two years as president to summarily dismissing senior public officials for corruption. He then resorted to extracting written integrity pledges from the officials when being sworn into public office. It’d be improbable – as President Mugufuli and many Tanzanians would perhaps rightly think – that no Tanzanian would today offer or accept a bribe. After all, the writing was on the wall that it’s zero-tolerance for corruption under President Magufuli.

Corruption does not go away overnight

But, the nature of corruption is such that the hydra-headed monster just doesn’t go away overnight. And this should inform the manner in which Tanzania fights corruption. Examples from other countries – some of which had terrible incidences of corruption – show that corruption can best be fought through comprehensive reforms of both the civil service and the body-politic.

The reforms must result in strong, dynamic and truly independent institutions. The reforms must, therefore, consolidate the independence and powers of the three pillars of government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary – resulting in truly effective checks and balances within government.

The reforms must also ensure that the media and civil society operate freely but responsibly, as both facilitate fighting corruption by exposing and hounding same. Strong, independent government institutions and functional checks and balances make it possible to prosecute corrupt individuals without fear or favour.

Critics claim that these kinds of reforms are ‘expensive, and seek to impose on Africa foreign democratic systems.’ The critics are, of course, wrong. Common sense shows that corruption can only be fought when people know that the system is so transparent that they’d certainly be exposed and prosecuted if they offer or accept bribes. Corruption flourishes in an atmosphere where the media cannot operate freely; where Parliamentary powers aren’t ‘recognized;’ where the Judiciary isn’t truly independent – and the civil society operates in fear.