Almost every African country is currently facing
corruption and has an “anti-corruption” body. These bodies are known by
various good and serious names such as Takukuru (Tume ya Kuzuia na
Kupambana na Rushwa) Tanzania, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC)
and Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU). Even DRC despite being
tainted with corruption, hopefully had an anti-corruption corps.
Although impunity involving those manning
anti-corruption bodies is quite known for many Africans, the recent
conviction of Nigeria’s anticorruption agency EFCC’s officials is a slap
in the face to the government. Douglas Williams and Abba Ishaku were
recently convicted for asking a bribe of $ 630 from a politician in
order to stop investigating him. The amount of money is so small. This
suggests that even the officials in question are junior. What transpired
in Nigeria is but a typical replica of what has been going in Africa.
African anti-corruption agents are antithetic to what they say they are
fighting. They can deal with “everybody.”
Under every rule, there is an exception - they cannot
deal with politicos and sacred cows in the country. Most of the
anti-corruption agencies intimidate and dupe the general public and
donors that their respective governments are fighting corruption. Most
of these carbuncular creatures of corrupt regimes are under the office
of president like Takukuru. Their modus operandi towards their masters
goes with a proverb: asking me no questions; I’ll tell you no lies. How
can a corrupt regime fight corruption? How can a government that came to
power by rigging fight corruption?
Anti - corruption agencies are being used by corrupt
rulers as diapers to clean and conceal their messes. For example,
Africa's minerals are stolen every day but nobody is brought to book.
How can anti-corruption agencies tackle corruption while there is no
ethical grounding in African governing systems? How can anti-corruption
agencies take on corruption while they are doing so in Nigeria style of
“give me what’s mine otherwise you face it.” In Africa, any thief can
plunder and become super rich for no ethical rules are in place for
individuals to declare how they acquire their wealth.
Power in Africa is a family business. The President’s
power is used by family members and friends to solicit loans from the
banks and other preferential treatment. Anti-corruption agents neither
see them nor take on them. To show how smarter anti-corruption agents
are, they make their own killings and this is why many of the officials
of anti-corruption agencies are rich due to sound salaries and kickbacks
they receive in order to “fight” corruption.
We need independent bodies that can take on whomever
no matter what. This must be stipulated in the law. One can’t fight
corruption without pertinent ethics in place. Africa needs the same code
western countries use. Everybody must give an account of how he or she
made her wealth. By having such accountable and responsible codes,
Africa will be able to forge ahead. Are African strategies to fight
corruption monkey business or another display of hypocrisy and
megalomania?
Source: The African Executive Magazine Oct., 24, 2012.
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