Are You Corrupt ? A Self Examination.
Civil Society and corruption: a time for self-introspection
Most of the people are thinking about corruption. They think corruption is bad , as they always look corruption outside of their domain. Before complaining others, everyone should introspect and find it , whether they are involve somewhere in corruption ? Let's examine ...
It is my hope that this article will trigger a sense of reflection and self-introspection with the hope that all of us in the mass democratic and social justice movement will take a long hard look at ourselves. We must be able to ask if we still are in the movement to serve or pursue personal gain.
If you usually put more sugar in your tea when in a hotel than you do at home, you're most likely to be corrupt.
If you use more tissue in a public washroom than you do at home, you are a potential thief; if given the opportunity you would take what's not yours.
If you serve yourself more food that you can finish just because someone else is footing the bill; proves the greedy streak in you.
If you usually jump queues; shows that, if given a powerful position, you have the potential to abuse your office.
If you usually overlap while in a traffic jam or have no regard for traffic lights; then you are one who would easily embezzle public funds, if you're given a position at a public office, since you have contempt for any form of regulation.
If you channel waste or dirty water from your compound to a neighbour's compound rather than manage it, you're ill-mannered and selfish.
If you look at this post and wonder whether it was really necessary to talk about these issues; then you are dishonest. You would not hesitate to cover up ills in the society, for your own benefit.
From my experiences and observations, while civil society is often vocal at pointing the finger at the state, from its own backyard comes a sometimes even stronger and unbearable stench of corruption. The tragic thing is that few seem to smell this stench. It has become so normal that none are willing to stand up and fight it.
The popular narrative is to point fingers at the state and corporate actors without so much as lifting a finger against unscrupulous elements who have captured the civic space for personal gain, self-aggrandizement and wealth accumulation. They now mimic what the corrupt political and public functionaries have done to state funds.
In other words, the fight against corruption bears the hallmarks of an external and outward looking lens that does not shine light on the rot taking place internally. This cannot be right.
Accountability is a very important element in advancing good governance, human rights and social justice. If everybody in strategic public service roles (whether in the state, business or civil society sectors) were transparent and accountable, the problems in this continent would be minimal.
Deeping a culture of accountability and ethical leadership is a must! Ethical leadership must begin at the individual levels before it extends to organisational and institutional levels.
It cannot be proper that we remain silent and bury our heads in the proverbial sand while vile elements exploit and muddy the operational landscape for everyone in the social justice and human rights space.
It cannot be standard practice for women in the body politic of the struggle to be exploited, side-lined or only given opportunities to rise up the ranks only if they grant perverted men sexual favours.
It cannot be proper nor ethical that nepotism and corruption are allowed to thrive within civic society when our envisioned state is one that is based on the principles of service to our people.
In stating this, I recognize that there are those who may feel I am being too idealistic, that real life circumstances and considerations occasion for the current state of affairs.
But this view would be defeatist and typical denial-ism – to address these threats, we need to be brave enough to confront reality, take stock of the impact of poor ethical leadership and the loss that comes with it.
It cannot be that it is easy to see and point fingers at the state while we ourselves cannot be held to the highest standard of ethical and principled conduct. There must be consequence management for those found in the wrong with them sent to jail and their illegitimately gained assets seized.
Let us try to be people of character wherever we find ourselves.
A country is as good, or bad, as its citizens make it.
Think to Build Nation !
Civil Society and corruption: a time for self-introspection
Most of the people are thinking about corruption. They think corruption is bad , as they always look corruption outside of their domain. Before complaining others, everyone should introspect and find it , whether they are involve somewhere in corruption ? Let's examine ...
It is my hope that this article will trigger a sense of reflection and self-introspection with the hope that all of us in the mass democratic and social justice movement will take a long hard look at ourselves. We must be able to ask if we still are in the movement to serve or pursue personal gain.
If you usually put more sugar in your tea when in a hotel than you do at home, you're most likely to be corrupt.
If you use more tissue in a public washroom than you do at home, you are a potential thief; if given the opportunity you would take what's not yours.
If you serve yourself more food that you can finish just because someone else is footing the bill; proves the greedy streak in you.
If you usually jump queues; shows that, if given a powerful position, you have the potential to abuse your office.
If you usually overlap while in a traffic jam or have no regard for traffic lights; then you are one who would easily embezzle public funds, if you're given a position at a public office, since you have contempt for any form of regulation.
If you channel waste or dirty water from your compound to a neighbour's compound rather than manage it, you're ill-mannered and selfish.
If you look at this post and wonder whether it was really necessary to talk about these issues; then you are dishonest. You would not hesitate to cover up ills in the society, for your own benefit.
From my experiences and observations, while civil society is often vocal at pointing the finger at the state, from its own backyard comes a sometimes even stronger and unbearable stench of corruption. The tragic thing is that few seem to smell this stench. It has become so normal that none are willing to stand up and fight it.
The popular narrative is to point fingers at the state and corporate actors without so much as lifting a finger against unscrupulous elements who have captured the civic space for personal gain, self-aggrandizement and wealth accumulation. They now mimic what the corrupt political and public functionaries have done to state funds.
In other words, the fight against corruption bears the hallmarks of an external and outward looking lens that does not shine light on the rot taking place internally. This cannot be right.
Accountability is a very important element in advancing good governance, human rights and social justice. If everybody in strategic public service roles (whether in the state, business or civil society sectors) were transparent and accountable, the problems in this continent would be minimal.
Deeping a culture of accountability and ethical leadership is a must! Ethical leadership must begin at the individual levels before it extends to organisational and institutional levels.
It cannot be proper that we remain silent and bury our heads in the proverbial sand while vile elements exploit and muddy the operational landscape for everyone in the social justice and human rights space.
It cannot be standard practice for women in the body politic of the struggle to be exploited, side-lined or only given opportunities to rise up the ranks only if they grant perverted men sexual favours.
It cannot be proper nor ethical that nepotism and corruption are allowed to thrive within civic society when our envisioned state is one that is based on the principles of service to our people.
In stating this, I recognize that there are those who may feel I am being too idealistic, that real life circumstances and considerations occasion for the current state of affairs.
But this view would be defeatist and typical denial-ism – to address these threats, we need to be brave enough to confront reality, take stock of the impact of poor ethical leadership and the loss that comes with it.
It cannot be that it is easy to see and point fingers at the state while we ourselves cannot be held to the highest standard of ethical and principled conduct. There must be consequence management for those found in the wrong with them sent to jail and their illegitimately gained assets seized.
Let us try to be people of character wherever we find ourselves.
A country is as good, or bad, as its citizens make it.
Think to Build Nation !
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