By Philos Zambianos ([email protected])
I do not agree with the idea that corruption is the root of the evils in Zambia. Corruption is just a by product of the bad economy which itself stems from the bad policies of government who obviously do not have a clue what they are doing, other than enrich themselves while preaching to the masses that they have their best interests at heart. Corruption follows a bad economy not the other way round. Zambia had a much smaller corruption problem at independence than now.
Corruption (especially the petty one) flourishes the most in poor countries. If you look at Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, it is always dominated by poor countries, with Zambia being among the most corrupt countries. The last 2008 index puts Zambia in the same range of ranking as Nigeria, Mauritania, Niger and Nepal, countries well know for their corruption.
(see http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2008)
The only way you can significantly reduce corruption is by adopting policies that favour high economic growth which in turn creates wealth that keeps people busy rather than soliciting for bribes. If you make it easy for people to do business, everyone including civil servants will be able to engage in meaningful economic activities that will make them tons of cash.
Secondly, you need to take away the power of politicians in economic activities. As long as government has power to arbitrarily set rules governing how business is conducted, set import taxes or create endless operational rules, corruption will always be there. Various business lobbies can pay people in government to push their agenda. This is why many nations for example restrict access to their markets or impose tariffs on certain imported goods. Their politicians are bought off or otherwise influenced by lobby groups representing businesses. If the government did not have the power over such matters, corruption would be reduced.
Thirdly, kill red tape. For example, to operate a hotel in Zambia requires more than fifteen different licenses that can take many months to get (even up to a year). How can you kill corruption with so many regulations like that? There are too many procedures and there is opportunity for corruption at every stage. Even simply registering a company can take several days when it should really be a one day affair.
Another important factor in truly fighting corruption is using computer and communications technologies to make government processes faster, more efficient and transparent. For example, the Patents, Companies and Societies Registration offices can have an online database of all organisations in Zambia including contact details, directors, trustees, annual reports, etc. If there is a government tender going on, it is easier to investigate possible corruption by checking from this database whether the directors of a company that wins the tender are related to the minister or permanent secretary at the government department (of course the tender itself should have been published online with the winners mentioned).
An unintended positive consequence of using computer technologies is that government saves more money especially with the internet. Imagine how much money Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) spends printing tax return documents every month and the wasted labour inputting all the data collected from tax returns. Why can’t they put a system to do tax returns on the ZRA website? Tax payers can simply file their returns online and walk to any bank and deposit the money owed to ZRA. Imagine the speed, efficiency, convenience and costs saved for both tax collector and tax payer.
Of course I am realistic enough to know that these things I have mentioned (and this is not an exhaustive list) will probably never be implemented by the Zambian government. But if our leaders implemented such policies, they would benefit tremendously as there would be endless business opportunities arising from the higher economic activity. They would not need to solicit bribes or depend on foreign aid as there would be so many opportunities for them to make honest money. Even if there would be a remnant of corrupt politicians, they would certainly remain a minority and would be caught more easily since the police and the press would be better financed in a prosperous nation.
So perhaps I should follow the Christians and start praying for God to send us a Messiah president who understands these things and is willing to throw away decades of wrong policies since independence. A person that can observe how other countries became wealthy from poverty and learn from them. A person who can boldly take a new revolutionary approach to economics rather than keep doing the same old “tried and tested” nonsense that landed Zambia in the mess it currently is in.
A president who for once is able to do the right thing.
:-w
How??? :-w
It is the first solution ever aired.
😮
Nachelwa.
Please tell us :d
LT OGB means Original Good Boyi!! So ine nomba I am changing!! Imwe be nice!!
I was the first one to appreciate this thread and you removed my first entry! 😮
Please let us settle matters :d
we have told you before, don’t let people take the money and then involve ACC afterwards it will be too late and waste of resources.
Jamaco did they remove your post? :o:o:o
You are kidding me! Why?
You can not get rid of some thing e.d Crime of which corruption is part of it. Corruption will always be there. The only solution is to acquire advanced tactics and technology of detecting it and catching corrupt beings **==
“Summary trials” are better to deal with corruption, just set courts do deal with such fellows for two weeks. If found wanting grab the loot and either clear them from the earth or imprison them for 20 years. Lawyers who defend such cases should face the same punishment with the convict. Such cases should never ever reach the supreme court.
Ohhh my God, how did that happen???? I was no. 2 now I am no. 1. See people when i tell you nothing is impossible! :d/
8. 3RqU
of course they did!! my first entry was like the #5 !! I just posted it again at 5 because they had removed first entry.
Is it fair?
8. 3RqU
Just look at what # 11 has written!! He also saw it!! :d
Jail Chiluba and other plunderers to show them that the long arm of the law will visit them o=>
Very positive article and worth considering. This is a first.
Please I swear guys i didn’t bribe anybody. I am not corrupt! :d
L.T.
This is a very good read indeed..very interesting.. keep it up..
an eye opener =d>=d>=d>:>:>
16. KA’DOYO…
I know you did not !! At least you saw what happened.
13. Jamaco
I will keep quite Jamaco kuti wa ponta. Look at threads on The Sun. Upthearse is almost always first on threads involving Arsenal and the Spuds. Sometimes he posts 4 consecutive posts. I mean stuff like “Toot Toot Toot”. I have never seen ba Sun delete them neither have I seen him complain.
Ubwina Africa Jamaco. :d
Oops Quiet
Jamaco wadandauka sana mukamba! Filachitika
Morning All!!
Coming to the article,The thing that has compounded the corruption levels in Zed is the constitution coz it protects the current office bearers from prosection until they leave office(and its good for them).The way forward is to have the Freedom of Information Bill so that corruption can be exposed as it is happening otherwise it will remain a pipe dream
Corruption in Zambia has gone beyond repair.
Jamaco and 3Rqu, That’s what happens when the moderator is in the house. Balansuba ba LT to keep the house in order. So I am just doing the job I have paid for. :-b
I mean i have been paid for….sorry
Once there were twins, Mark and Michael, Mark was the owner of a dilapidated old boat.
It so happened that Michael’s wife died the same day that Mark’s boat sank.
A few days later, a kindly old woman saw Mark and mistook him for Michael. She said, “I’m sorry to hear about your loss. You must just feel terrible.”
Mark, thinking that she was talking about his boat, Said ” Heck no. In fact, I’m sort of glad to be rid of her. She was a rotten thing right from the begining.
her bottom was all shriveled up and she smelled like old dead fish.
She was always losing her water, she had a bad crack in the back and a pretty big hole in the front too.
Every time used her, her hole got bigger and
Why is it that the first 10 comments on every string are always shallow with no content? Can we improve on content even if we are aiming for nambala one.
This is very true. There is need to put many issuer of say driving license in many area, coz many people face alot of heal when getting such things.
Please namipapata do pipo do something with this corruption Iam #:-s(tired) of it ine mwe.Upto now I have failed to understand what one of the officer at RTSA meant by maintanance fee when I went to collect my brother’s driver’s license.Corruption please if you are somewhere near me please Iam begging you to go back where you came from Iam tired of you,and Iam sure iam not the only one.So my dear for the sake of peace Kabiye eko wafuma kuli satana.
Matworld
LT award winner for:-j:-j:-j:-j:-j
Moderator
How are you today?
Contnd.
She leaked like crazy
I guess what finally finished her off was when i rented to these four guys looking for a good time
i have only scanned the article and i dont agree with the first part that poverty is the root cause of corruption in zambia.The cause is lack of information.If people are well informed then only a few of them would be willing to part with their hard earned kwacha that easily but not knowing what procedure to follow or who to consult has proved to be very costly to the nation.corruption will always be rampant in Zed as long as public information is kept secret.
Ichikulu bulecha mukwai. Ndifye bwino. Ngaimwe ba Matworld?
Ba Matworld mulishani?
Wafitala uyu umulumendo beta ati Corruption. Tomfwa pakanwa komafye limbi ifikoti kuti aya ekwafuma.
Chief corrupt officer is RB. What has the ACC done about his corrupt activities he engaged in during campaigns?
I agree with the author that politicians should stay away from economic matters and concentrate on politics. Their involvement in economic affairs only generates corruption.
25. Zimandola One
Feb 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am Vote: 0 0 Why is it that the first 10 comments on every string are always shallow with no content? Can we improve on content even if we are aiming for nambala one.
You are the one with no solution, you are empty.
Ba Moderator,
Ine naumfwa bwino to know that you are fine.
Ba Sharp shooter,
Ndifye bwino katwishi imwe?
Ala this person alishupa,the problem is naifwe fwe ma christians we have failed to overcome him.You are right this person called corruption needs ifikoti pantu acila.
Matworld
Lt award winner for :-j:-j:-j
Corruption temuntu iyoo. Ni virus. Unfortunately, it is more prevalent among puplic service workers and high ranking politicains. They really need to clean up their working enviroment otherwise, bakepaisha abengi.
:-b
Thanx Ba Mat, ndifye bwino, june fye kuno or sorry ukutalala.Twalibelasha june lol
Ba Moderator
I have endorsed your likening of corruption to a Virus. In this case HIV virus which has no spared anyone.
missed you guys,later
Mwashibukeni bonse!
Jamaco, what led you to add those initials to your ID? Are you mutating?:d
The neverending tales of corruption.
Maybe the only way to get rid of it is by death penalty. 😕
40. Nine Chale
Iwe Nina Chale I will go ku USA now!
Can you give a name so that ngafyashupa pa LT then you would recognise my postings with the name you will give me!! I am waiting for a new name iwe!!
maybe something like BLEEK or Nine J or Exile!!!
I think Exile will do tefyo?
Fast-track corruption cases and give culprits lengthy sentences.
I dont think computerisation is the real answer but part of the solution to solving corruption which has reached an imaginable proportion in our country.The real answer is for people to skick up to what they are entitled to.I think a dawn openned its wings under Mwanawasa for us to fly against corruption and we have to go an extra mile.Never should we allow people incubate corruption which will eventually hatch into boilers of our developmental stagnation
#26 when you are numbala un,deux,trois its quite impossible to have read the whole story so the first stringers usually do not read the story. they only read after they know that they have beaten everybody to Numbala un
I dont think computerisation is the real answer but part of the solution to solving corruption which has reached an imaginable proportion in our country.The real answer is for people to stick up to what they are entitled to.I think a dawn openned its wings under Mwanawasa for us to fly against corruption and we have to go an extra mile.Never should we allow people incubate corruption which will eventually hatch into boilers of our developmental stagnation
Here is one solution: Every time a government or state official demands money, demand a receipt.
That way, there is a paper trail and it would make it easier to follow up or even take them to court if you have to.
In this electronic age, it is really unacceptable to have money change hands without a paper trail.
The government should automate it’s operations, although this seems to be mightily resisted for reasons unknown.
|-)|-)|-)
Hi All,Hope you are doing a greet job.
I have given up to be number 1, i even took time off to rest , bu tit seems some pipo ni nshimbi kukuba number 1.
Jamaco , the name that suits you is Was here and there.
Thanks
The same corrupt pipo in govt are always crying about corruption, just to cover their own backs.
These are the same corrupt leaders.
Stop making noise and act on it now
# 33 Stop that political Diarrhea. RB did not bribe anybody during campaigns. We won fair and square. We lost were were expected to lose and won were we were expected to win. If you have evidence take it to the ACC and Carbon Copy (CC) it to the POST Newspaper who would be glad to paint it on all their failing 16 page newspaper. Don’t be naive and make those populist, unsubstantiated statements which you can not back up. Do you think if the POST had hard evidence against RB they would stay zzzziii. You are dreaming my friend. Don’t buy into this urban legend of RB corrupted people. It is not true and don’t even bring up the sugar story ..that has already been addressed
Jamaco, don’t worry yourself too much. Keep your name & as long as your posts remain sensible, everyone including LT will recognize the Goldie in you.
We all make mistakes on this blogg. Cheer up, bro!
:)>-
To the real all things are real. (Makiaveli)
Jamaco hw r u? Walapena brother take it easy…Wherez Pinkly ayi :o):o):o):o):o)
#55 :oDealt with?
How?:o:o:o
Please let us know!
Waiting!
The only way you can significantly reduce corruption is by adopting policies that favour high economic growth which in turn creates wealth that keeps people busy rather than soliciting for bribes.
Jamaco hold it!!!! U wil go coco..
Matworld if u r online,can u cross over to yahoo!
Jamaco and co stop being childish ..you can check the past LT Update report where they explained that the flag does not necessary represent your location. You are just changing the proxy for you INTERNET access and some f o o l s thing you are a genius my foot. I bet you don’t have access to an SA or Zambia proxy,
Nine Chale?? Did you know you can change your Flag Anytime
Corruption is a very bad disease that can never be cured ,once you go corruption way the is no turning back . Look at VJ *-:)*-:)*-:)*-:)*-:)ka Chiluba:o:o:o:o:o8-|8-|8-|
JAmaco see sum pips hav risen against u,now it will be LT banning u.Watch the space n be careful
corruption can be solved by reducing chances of creating axieties to get something done. developed countries like japan have gove electronic. you can buy a train tickets, drinks from vending machines that are strategically placed. there is no negotiation you just pay and get. pa zed too much manual work. fyonse kulemba na pen nokunfwana. how ca we develope.
What going on here? 😕
Jamaco how do you do that? Playing Matrix Reloaded?
3RqU,its so surprising.Hw r u my brother
This is a good article & the govt can absorb & put to practice the recommendations mentioned however,the author who is unknown should have the guts to go public & ensure their message is delivered using the right channels,why not have this article in print media,go on air on ZNBC like the likes of Chibamba Kanyama so etd that way words will not fall on deaf ears,here this article is meaningless especially bearing in mind that most bloggers here on LT are really not up for serious issues and to be honest seem to be just a bunch of kids studying somewhere,they don’t understand real issue just like Joyce Nonde said. :((
I am out :o:o:o Eeh!
Lusaka Times
Mwampesha.
Ba LT why deleting my post? Na fwita.
Now I understand why people have stopped coming on here. 😕
Nine Chale
You are nor alone my dear.Naine ayi.
Have i gone bananas or it’s just LT :o:o:o:o:o
Yaba
corruption sounds simple but its a verify difficult vice to fight especially in a poor country and esp. if even some basogoleli are champion victims of it. God help us…good article tho i hope strategic policy makers will read after me and do something.
#74 DM
ANY ILLNESS OR PIPOS WRONG DOING CAN BE CONTROLLED OR EVEN STOPPED.
HERE IN THE UK, THESE USE UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS, THEY THEN EXPOSE THOSE WHO TRY TO DEFRAUD THE GOVT. WHY CANT THE SAME METHOD BE USED MU ZED.
Spring Chicken ,
WHATS UP DEAR?
This article points out the obvious and above all provides realistic solutions to the problem that cripples our economy. However, the interesting thing in all this is that Goverment has tonnes of smart people that already know that such a measure will reduce or simply eat away there fat bank balances hence the reason they would never really work on implementing measures that will result in them (most) losing out. The only option remains with us Zambians to stop recycling politicians that are up to no good e.g. the likes of V.J. These politicians dwell on the notion of hegemony and whatever happens and as long as they remain in power, corruption is here to stay.:-?
It takes 2 to tangle. If you say no then the other chap wont have a chance. But we are too weak to say no.
#75 thanks bro seconded!!!
Its not possible to completely get rid of the vice.
This a very good article but the problem is that it is not being read by our leaders. Iwe mnyamata uli nanzeru maningi. The same corrupt leaders dont even have time to read this knoweledge empowering site.
I diasgree with the author, for Third World country like ours you can’t divorce poltics from aconomic activities. There is no way politicians could concentrate on politiking and let other guys manage the econmic affairs of the country. This will bring about instability as those with control over the economy will be sponsoring politicians for their own interests. It will be like counter coups. Look at Somalia, its poltically dead but the guys will bucks are busy sponsoring clans to turn on each other. We just need to change the way we do things corruption will always be there just like cholera. We missed the chance. Trouble started with civil service from white to blakman. UNIP started it.
The naivety of the author is incredible to say the least. And those who published the article? Awe shuwa……. =))
I’m 100% for improved use of computer & modern communications technologies in all business and service provisions. It ushers in efficiency which helps reduce chances of corrupt practices. But once corruption is deep rooted, it calls for drastic measures like the JJ Rawlings style (in Ghana). He paraded & shot all those big corrupt chaps. Since then, Ghana changed completely & is scoring highly in terms of development.
I really do not get it that corruption follow bad economic policies????… what people may term bad economic policies in one country could actually be good to the other and they all proceed to developmen. egg chiken situation. I think corruption follows crooks. There is no way pelple would just become corrupt if the government was not corrupt.
We have just had corrupt people in GRZ and that is the reason we can only compete with countries that are at all or crooked up like Nigeria. what went wrong Kanshi?????
Just think of a President talking directly to an airline (In fact not the best really) for some business. Is our country so messed up that cheap guys from an airline can have access to cheat the president. How much aviation business does he know??. Why not leave it with people who understand aviations and airline business. I though they would be by this time finishig lies about the oil they themselves found in northwestern?? The twelve points of oil?????
It would be so funny just like the other deals of selling the mines, that if the president is cheated then the whole country goes in shame of being blind followers.
stiffer penalties may deter corruption.
#11. The write, in no uncertain terms made it clear that he was not saying completely removing corruption. But greatly reducing it. The writer, throughout his editorial used very simple and natural language. How people can misunderstand him really boggles my mind. To conquer with the writer, truly modernisation will solve most Zambia’s economic ills. Just as Michael Sata keeps on emphasizing about it. Obviously, Zambia’s set up of systems encourages corruption at all levels including presidential. Well done Philos Zambianos for your wise and knowledgeable contribution.
#75 CEO. Why exposing those involved in corruption cannot be implemented in Zambia is because the politicians who are supposed to sanction the implementation of such policies in Zambia are themselves corrupt.
i think the best way to reduced corruption is to put all the corrupt officials in prison and make them pay..
Just desire to say your article is as surprising. The clarity for your post is simply cool and that i could suppose you are knowledgeable on this subject. Fine along with your permission allow me to grasp your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please continue the enjoyable work.
My brother recommended I might like this website. He used to be totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t believe simply how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thank you!