I AM beginning to accept something a bright young lawyer said to her colleagues recently. In Tanzania, everybody is corrupt, the difference is in the degree and type.
Eh? Everybody? No way. That was my reaction upon hearing this pronouncement. Tanzania is not Gomorrah. There must be thousand good men, at least. Or else we could be in imminent danger of being incinerated by the fire of God almighty on account of our sins and inequities.
The young lawyer was adamant. No individual or group political or otherwise can claim to have the moral authority to point fingers at others. That is preposterous. How can one make such a claim?
According to this future leader and present visionary, even if someone has not personally done something wrong, they have witnessed some wrong doing and did nothing about it. Guilty by omission or commission. Trust lawyers to find a legal technicality to get a conviction or acquittal.
To illustrate the point, the up and coming lawyer gave examples. A house maid who takes household supplies or food from her employer for personal use is guilty of corruption.
These days it is difficult to find trustful house workers The thieving house help is no different from an accountant who diverts funds from his employer for a private building project.
Or a manager who pockets subsistence allowances for attending a training seminar, when the said executive did not leave his office during the entire time the seminar was going on. Having a ghost seminar in one’s office at government expense is corruption too.
My inspired graduate had fire in her belly. Did I not tell you the visionary was a woman? Women have sharp insights into life issues, even if we men do not give them credit for it.
She went on to proclaim to her captive audience - the few who were willing to hear bitter truth - that it is not necessary to steal money from government or private employer to be corrupt.
If you are an employee who is expected to work eight hours every day and you report late for work and perform just four hours of effective work, you are also corrupt.
If you had a long night because you went out clubbing the previous night and only slept for two and half hours, you know the following day you will not be able to concentrate on your job.
On such a day you will be earning a full salary when your performance is barely half of your peak. That is where the corruption is.
And yes there are many young and older but young-at-heart persons who know they occasionally do not put in a full day’s work, but at the end of the month have no hesitation in signing for a full salary. According to my young and restless mademoiselle, that also is corruption.
A doctor agrees to work on contract for say 400,000/- per month salary. He is expected to attend to a minimum number of patients a day and be on call whenever required to by his employer.
If he does not perform his duties in accordance with the terms of his contract and still pockets the full salary every month, he or she is corrupt.
We are not talking about a doctor who is employed by Muhimbili or other government hospital and is paid in full, but spends a large part of his time working as consultant or resident physician at a private hospital such as Aga Khan, TMJ or Hindu Mandal.
By the way, why is it okay for doctors to moonlight but not teachers or other professionals? It is okay for teacher Mbinu Nyingi to be a salaried employee of Manga Tanga ward secondary school and also work part time at St Vizito Pesamingi academic international school?
It is acceptable for Engineer Magorofani of Works Ministry to also work part time with Cardinal Sin construction company?
If working part time in the private sector is good for doctors, then it should be good for engineers and teachers too.
Except that I can foresee many problems including the dilemma of working for two masters and conflict of interest when doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers have a stake in the ownership of their part time job premises.
When a citizen chooses to provide his/her services part time without official authorisation, that is also corruption. How many public employees have side jobs which end up eating a big chunk of time and making it difficult to perform official duties?
Small scale farmers who want a better life for themselves and their families must be willing to work hard at their farm to produce enough to cover family needs.
If we change a Member of Parliament and elect new ward councillors, will those leaders beat up lazy villagers to force them to be more productive?
A father who spends the cash crops earnings on booze instead of on family essentials is corrupt. He is taking away money meant to pay school fees, hospital bills or clothing for his family.
There are many fathers like this in towns and villages. When citizens demand to change the damaging, I mean managing directors at the top of the food chain but are not willing to change themselves, it will not work. No regime change will make doctors and teachers who are only interested in money to suddenly become committed to their jobs.
Change must come from each and every citizen. Secondary and tertiary school students must motivate themselves to study seriously. There is no genius without hard work, said Albert Einstein.
I can hear some asking, who is Einstein, because they do not read. No amount of money will create dedication in teachers.
If we want regime change, we should be ready to weed out corrupt elements in the teaching profession. Teachers who chase money at the expense of the learning of young Tanzanians should leave the teaching (or medical) field and join the cut throat competition in business.
Those aspiring to become top leaders in Tanzania must be bold enough to tell the ‘wananchi’ the truth. Grand promises will not create a peaceful, cohesive and corrupt-free Tanzania.
Changing oneself from within to become better individuals, family and community members is what we need in Tanzania. That is the true jihad.
/Daily News.
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