Councillors take corruption to extremes

Levi Mukarati, Political Reporter

In most developing nations or emerging democracies, political office is regarded as a passport to self-enrichment albeit at the expense of the generality of the population wallowing in abject poverty and Zimbabwe is no exception.

Since 1980, there have been numerous media reports of some political elements in ZANU-PF that have used their powers and connections to amass wealth, rendering the party a sanctuary for corrupt activities.
Corruption rose to higher levels in the late 1980's with the most celebrated case being the Willowgate scandal, which claimed the life of ZANU-PF flamboyant politician, Maurice Nyagumbo who committed suicide after being implicated in the shady deals.
Other ZANU-PF bigwigs received varying suspended sentences over their corrupt involvement in the buying and re-selling of vehicles, mostly Toyota Cressida models, from Willowvale Motor Industry. Coupled with other misdeeds and bad governance practices, disgruntled citizens rallied behind the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in 1999, using the anti-corruption drive as their rallying point.
The six-month old MDC, united then, won sizeable parliamentary seats in 2000 before nearly pulling the rug from under ZANU-PF's feet in the harmonised polls in 2008, sweeping most local government seats in cities and major towns of Zimbabwe, including the capital Harare and Bulawayo, the second largest city, as people protested against the former administration’s corrupt tendencies.
Several prominent ZANU-PF officials were hauled to the courts on corruption charges, among them former finance minister, Chris Kuruneri while scores of others fled to the diaspora as the net closed in on them, for example businessman, James Makamba.
Analysts this week pointed out that the fundamental aspects that shaped the MDC were its determination to become a panacea to misrule, selfishness, greed and corruption that had taken root within the nation during ZANU-PF's grip on power.
With the emergence of the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the bulk of the population pinned its hopes on the new kid on the political bloc to nip corruption in the bud especially following the party's entry into the inclusive government inaugurated in February last year.
But exactly a year in power, the MDC-T, which controls all the cities and major local authorities, has sadly disappointed its multitude of supporters and admirers, including the West.
Facts on the ground indicate that corrupt tendencies have quickly manifested themselves within MDC-T run councils, threatening the confidence of the electorate in the former opposition party.
Analysts attribute poor leadership qualities and selection of ineligible candidates in the last council elections as having brought greedy people into local authorities.
Political analyst and academic, Joseph Kurebwa, said corruption in MDC-T councils was rife because people without a record of having worked elsewhere and succeeded have been trusted to represent the communities.
He said the councillors were failing to deliver according to the expectations of the residents because they were not suitable for the offices they were holding.
Kurebwa said; "We have a weak structure as a country and this has resulted in people of poor leadership quality being appointed into big offices, people of no integrity and people who do not have a record of having succeeded in working elsewhere.
"We are picking people with no credible background, the reef roughs of the society are being elected to office. When they are in office they have no respect for that office. That is the nature of the people we are trusting into office."
It is evident that most councillors, especially in urban areas, have hazy backgrounds and were chosen for the wrong attributes.
Most MDC-T councillors were activist who did not own meaningful properties and had become famous for speaking out against ZANU-PF at a time when no one dared to do so. These people stood out clear in the midst of other supporters and were made candidates on the basis of their bravery and not ability.
Local government expert, Gerry Gotora, concurred with Kurebwa adding that the councillors were trying to make a living out of the councils.
"The old way of doing things was that people had to have a place where they are identified with. All councillors had to be of fixed abode and were known by the people because they would have made a name for themselves," said Gotora.
"With this crop of councillors we have people who have been elected into office out of protest. The voters just wanted change from the suffering they were going through, but now they are realizing the mess they have put themselves into.
"The councillors have nothing to defend and are seeking to make a living out of the local authorities. They are bound to grab any opportunity that arises that is why corruption has hit these councils.
"In Africa, Zimbabwe had one of the best local government systems and it is sad to note that this gain will slowly be eroded because we have tasked the wrong people to run our affairs," said Gotora.
Previously, councillors were elected into office because they were key community figures who owned businesses or had interests to protect with their localities. The criteria for selecting the candidates was not according to the law, but had been made a standard practice to avoid conflict of interests in council business.
While the analysts says the corrupt tendencies in councils should be blamed on the quality of the councillors, Transparency International Zimbabwe director, Mary Jane Ncube, says poor policies to fight corruption were to blame.
"The MDC seems to be turning like ZANU-PF because of the legal and policy framework established by this country in dealing with corruption, whether political or private sector corruption," said Ncube.
"What makes it possible for the new councillors or anyone to perpetrate corruption unchecked is because there is not enough punitive legislation and implementation of the legislation so that people are prosecuted. We are not respecting the laws. The laws need to be strengthened and the courts need to be strengthened."
Ncube said the MDC-T councillors could do better if the political landscape is balanced to give the people a clear view to judge the former opposition members.
Cases of unprocedural allocation of residential and industrial stands, mismanagement of funds and council property, nepotism and corruption have been reported in MDC-T run local authorities.
As a measure to counter the corrupt activities, the MDC-T has come up with a code of ethics governing its members in office.
Under the set of ethics, those vying for office should be able to declare their interests and assets to the party.
The development is meant to bring transparency within the MDC-T and it is hoped that the ethics will not be just a set of guidelines documented and shelved to gather dust in a certain office without being implemented.
To show the seriousness of the party in fighting the graft, Prime Minister Tsvangirai has come out in the open speaking against corruption.
Addressing supporters last week in Chitungwiza, the MDC-T leader was reported as saying: "Some of you (councillors) did not have even a single pair of shoes, but you now own six cars. We are very serious about this issue (corruption). Some of you are already building white houses, what is this?
"This is a reflection of a party eroding as a result of corruption. This is a serious matter… as president of the party, I have an obligation to protect the integrity of the party and in pursuit of this obligation I prefer to become the most unpopular leader for a very popular reason."
The premier's statements came at the back of reports that MDC-T councillors were crafting unrealistic budgets in order to siphon the impoverished residents through hefty salaries and allowances.
While the MDC-T is alarmed by the corruption reports, the minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development, Ignatius Chombo, has threatened to replace councils involved in corruption with commissions.
In the past, Chombo has dissolved urban councils in most major towns and cities accusing them of failing to provide adequate services for the residents and replaced them with commissions.
Analysts however, say Tsvangirai should be firm in routing out corrupt leaders and officials in his ranks before the party disengaged itself from its supports lured by its anti-corruption drive and protest vote against ZANU-PF.