We need to change tack in the war on corruption

By Editor

 When it comes to corruption in the public sector, police have arguably the worst track record – followed by health authorities and then the judiciary, the government owned power monopoly Tanesco and the Tanzania Revenue Authority.

 

This is according to a nationwide survey by Concern for Development in Africa (ForDIA), but juts why is that so? Could single common factor be the low payment they get despite their sectors being so crucial to the socio-economic wellbeing of the country?

 

According to the Business Anti-Corruption Portal, police – in particular traffic police – are considered hugely vulnerable to corruption largely owing to lack of resources. Similarly, according to UNHCR’s freedom in the world report, the judiciary is vulnerable to corruption due to underfunding, a heavy workload and political interference.

 

Since being sworn in, President John Magufuli has lived up to his ‘The Bulldozer’ nickname by knocking down forts of corruption all the way from Tanzania’s biggest referral hospital down to the ports. Few officials implicated in corruption and other forms of crime have escaped his wrath.

 

However, when one has a fever and they a pain killer, all it does is mask the fever but it leaves the underline disease in placing, growing ever stronger and making sicker. So, while firing these corrupt officials is a step in the right direction but as stated, painkillers don’t heal they simply take away the pain but the disease festers on.

 

Firing the corrupt elements is akin to taking painkillers, if the disease is a bacterial infection, anything short of an antibiotic and the bacteria will only multiply, under the cover of the painkillers. So if the underlying cause of corruption, low compensation of public servants is not addressed then the bacteria continue to multiply under the cover of the few fired officials.

 

The fear of being caught and fired may deter some, but not for long for the ever increasing needs of oneself and their dependants is the pressing reality that can’t be avoided nor ignored. So instead of stopping, the corrupt officials simply develop better tactics to go undetected.

 

When the landlord comes knocking at your door, integrity goes out the window right along with the fear of being caught and instead of writing you a ticket the traffic officer would rather take ‘kitu kidogo’ (a little something).Now consider the sad reality of just how poor the country is and replay this scenario across the entire public sector.

 

What you find is stained linen that cannot be cleaned by regular detergents; rather, they need much stronger stain removers. Therefore, the government must explore ways to increase payment for the police, nurses and teachers among other public servants slaving away for scraps.

 

It is only after these groups receive compensations that cater for their basic needs that they can be questioned on integrity and rightfully punished for being corrupt. But when you lock up a street urchin for stealing a mango in the market you do him no justice because the theft was not a matter of juvenile delinquency but rather unbearable hunger.