POLITICAL CORRUPTION can be defined both with reference to the main actors involved, namely persons at the highest

levels of the political system, and the purpose of the corrupt behaviour, namely to sustain the hold on power. Hence, political corruption can be for private and group enrichment, and for power preservation purposes. Often these two forms of political corruption are connected. Some of the larger and more serious political corruption scandals include both processes - accumulation on the one hand and the misuse of extracted or public money for political purposes on the other. The latter process is somewhat under-researched and underestimated, since much of the focus in the literature has been on accumulation. Political corruption in the form of accumulation or extraction occurs when government officials use and abuse their hold on power to extract from the private sector, from government revenues, and from the economy at large. These processes of accumulation have been called extraction, embezzlement, rent-seeking, plunder and even kleptocracy ("rule by thieves"), depending on the extent and context. Extraction takes place mainly in the form of soliciting bribes in procurement and government projects, in privatisation processes and in taxation. Military procurement is known to be particularly affected by extractive political corruption worldwide, because of the involvement of toplevel politicians, national interests and secrecy. CAUSES OF CORRUPTION You may agree with me that it is usually an uphill task to address symptoms prior to identifying the root causes of corruption. Research findings reveal that there are political, economic, social and cultural causes of corruption. A political environment characterized by tyranny can be a conducive breeding ground for corruption because tyranny in itself is corrupt. Here we are referring to unbridled discretional power vested in those holding influential positions in political parties and other organisations critical to the economy of any country. Since tyranny is so difficult to challenge, corruption may then appear the only means the average individual has to overcome the restrictions imposed by tyranny. It can also be argued that corruption within the ruling elite will lend corruption a measure of validity it does not merit. As long as the political elite is not prepared to punish those who are corrupt within its own group, corruption will spread. The foregoing clearly tends to suggest that genuine demonstration of political will to fight corruption should start from the top cascading downwards. The democratically elected Zimbabwe Government has recently demonstrated this political will through the creation of the Anti-Corruption Commission that is spearheading the offensive on corruption. In this drive there shall no sacred cows. You cannot divorce economics from corruption. The two are like two sides of a coin. Inequality of wealth and situations where salaries and wages are very low compared to the prevailing standard of living are some of the economic causes of corruption. In a bid to supplement their meager salaries so they argue, employees are tempted to indulge in corrupt deals. However, let me pose this question to you, 'is it therefore acceptable to use low salaries as an excuse to be corrupt?' Any fair-minded Zimbabwean will agree with me that the answer is a big NO. Justifying corruption on these grounds will be like licensing the poor to plunder the land. There is also an argument that an economic situation characterized by scarcity of basic commodities and in which supply cannot be regulated is a fertile ground fo corruption. But does this then justify greed and hoarding?

Corruption normally thrives in societies where religious, traditional, ethical teaching and moral standards are weak and where punishment is lenient. These values should be revived. Chiefs and religious leaders have a critical role to play in the resuscitation of ethical values in their subjects and congregations. The media has of late become awash with stories of traditional healers and prophets who abuse their patients and religious leaders who misuse tithes and offerings. If these pillars of integrity in our societies lose their watchdog role, then what will become of their subjects and congregations? Unhu hwedu hwakadyiwa nei? Surely a society characterized by lack of respect, fearlessness of the law and immorality will be subsequently the first victim of corruption. Agree or disagree, the education sector, the judiciary and our law enforcement agents has a critical role to play in revisiting our current education system and the operating laws and punishments. Organizational cultures with lack of civil service work ethics and absence of public accountability and responsibility will foster corruption. Even if work ethics are available, these may be flouted willy-nilly for personal gain leading to ethnic and cultural minorities perceiving themselves as being disadvantaged, thus their resorting to corruption to secure services from public administration. Research reveals that some service departments desperately need self- cleansing in this regard. And you as an employee - do you have the integrity expected of you? There may be no need to continue to discuss some of these causes as they are self-explanatory such as: . Organizational arrangements, which allow excessive discretion in the hands of individuals . Poor corporate Governance in institutions or companies . The multilingual nature of society that may cause language affiliations to encourage favoritism and nepotism . Weak legal framework to fight corruption . Lack of transparency in procuring and tendering procedures . Society's indifference to corruption. EFFECTS ON POLITICS, ADMINISTRATION, AND INSTITUTIONS

Corruption poses a serious development challenge. In the political realm, it undermines democracy and good governance by flouting or even subverting formal processes. Corruption in elections and in legislative bodies reduces accountability and distorts representation in policymaking; corruption in the judiciary compromises the rule of law; and corruption in public administration results in the inefficient provision of services. More generally, corruption erodes the institutional capacity of government as procedures are disregarded, resources are siphoned off, and public offices are bought and sold. At the same time, corruption undermines the legitimacy of government and such democratic values as trust and tolerance.

SOLUTION TO POLITICAL CORRUPTION

Part of the problems with laws and politics is accountability. A politician does not think long termthey think to the next election. A monarchy on the other hand has the benefit of having dynastic laws instead of short term laws. The idea is this: a: Remove term limits: If a politician thinks "This is my last term" they are more likely to make shady deals for cash or power in the private sector. b: Increase wages of the elected officials and make it completely illegal to accept donations or "gifts". All election funds come from tax coffers and are capped. Or: Tie their wages to the level the nation prospers under their rule: This will make bribes less tempting and or outright impossible. Reduce smear campaigns and force a greater focus on a meritocracy instead of PR campaign. c: Extend terms to 10-15 years a term while making it easier to repeal: If they have greater time to think through laws and address how they will impact. One could wind up with better laws. It would also shorten the final hour laws passed to appear "Tough on crime" or similar situations. It would also give greater personal accountability to the laws they pass or assist as it is too common the real ripple effects take longer than a 4 year term to feel. Other areas: health, public safety, education, trade unions etc. Corruption is not specific to poor, developing or transition countries. In western European countries, there have been cases of bribery and other forms of corruption in all possible fields: under-the-table payments made to reputed surgeons by patients willing to be on top of the list of forthcoming surgeries, bribes paid by suppliers to the automotive industry in order to sell poor quality connectors used for instance in safety equipment such as airbags, bribes paid by suppliers to manufacturers of defibrillators (to sell poor quality capacitors), contributions paid by wealthy parents to the "social and culture fund" of a prestigious university in exchange for it to accept their children, bribes paid to obtain diplomas, financial and other advantages granted to unionists by members of the executive board of a car manufacturer in exchange for employer-friendly positions and votes etc. Examples are endless. These various manifestations of corruption can ultimately present a danger for the public health, they can discredit certain essential institutions or social relationships. Corruption can also affect the various components of sports activities (referees, players, medical and laboratory staff involved in anti-doping controls, members of national sport federation and international committees deciding about the allocation of contracts and competition places). There have also been cases against (members of) various types of non-profit and non-government organisations, as well as religious organisations.

Ultimately, the distinction between public and private sector corruption sometimes appears rather artificial and national anti-corruption initiatives may need to avoid legal and other loopholes in the coverage of the instruments. 1. Loss of Government Revenue The first victim of corruption is government revenue. In a developing economy like the Philippines, this can be extremely debilitating. The continuing budgetary deficit of the government results into cutbacks in expenditures for much needed social services. 2. Education The gap of classrooms in public elementary schools is estimated to be about 40,000 this coming school year. The case is even more pathetic, as the lack of qualified teachers further confound the problems. While student population keeps on growing year after year, these gaps in classroom, books and teachers is widening. What do these lead to? Poor quality education of the future citizens of the Republic further undermining their prospects of contributing to nation building. THAT IS A VERY HIGH PRICE TO PAY FOR CORRUPTION. 3. Infrastructure With tightening sources of funding for infrastructure development, government has to resort to partnership with the private sector. A public good like roads, bridges, ports and airports will necessarily be charging user fees to be able to earn profit and recover capital. Nothing wrong with because he who benefits should share the cost. But a lot of these projects require performance undertaking from the government to be financiable to lenders. This results into the contingent liabilities of the national government burgeoning the levels no one wants to even find out. Remember the NAIA III Terminal? an edifice that can't be operated until now. The MACAPAGAL BOULEVARD which can easily enter the Guiness Book as the world's most expensive boulevard? THE SMOKEY MOUNTAIN PROJECT where almost a billion of OFW's money was invested and has not been repaid until now? Last count in 2003, it stood to over P500 Billion. Thats about over 30 ,000 pesos per household. THAT IS NO LOOSE CHANGE TO PAY FOR CORRUPTION. 4. Environment Because government resources are constrained, environment protection programs are neglected. We passed the Clean Air Act and yet we cannot put our acts together in ensuring clean air. The law is toothless because the government has no money to invest in monitoring equipment. Even garbage it cannot collect. Remember the PAYATAS TRAGEDY? Meanwhile, to be able to generate power and run our heavy industries, less desirable Plants are allowed to be established. ASK THE PEOPLE from CALACA, BATANGAS, PAGBILAO QUEZON, and SUAL PANGASINAN, all sites of COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS that contribute to withdrawals from our deposit of breathable air, potable water and liveable communities. The resource balance of our children's future is rapidly depleting, A COST OF CORRUPTION THAT WE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR.

5. Government Debt and Poverty Again due to budget deficit, government keeps on accumulating debt, which at end of 2003 stood at over 2.4 trillion pesos. Thats over 30,000 pesos for every Filipino man, woman and child. At an average interest cost of 10% per year for both short and long term loans, that is equivalent to a staggering P240 Billion in interest payment alone every year. Thats the amount of money taken away form the mouth of the poor, who account to more than half of the Philippine population. TURNING OUR BACKS FROM OUR MARGINALIZED CITIZEN IS A STEEP PRICE TO PAY FOR CORRUPTION. 6. Political Patronage Corruption doesnt prosper without protection. Those who practice realize that to keep themselves in their lucrative posts, somebody politically powerful should be able to stop any attempts to cut him from illicit money flow. In return, he lavishes his patrons with gifts. Gifts in no small terms, which further corrupt him and his patron. His patron, in order to accumulate more gifts has to increase his influence. To increase his influence, he needs to milk his corrupt benefactors. And it goes on deeper and deeper. Elections are like a sponge, it sucks up all the money, most of it from corruption. Election in the Philippines are nothing but patronage politics. How else does one explain the millions spent in a campaign in exchange for a few measly thousand pesos in the salary of a public servant? There is only one explanation I have, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH, SOMEONE IS BOUND TO PAY FOR IT. How do campaign contributors expect to recover their investments? In the form of political protection to allow them to continue with their illegal activities. In the form of rigged government contracts. In the form of economic rents taxpayers eventually pay for. 7. Crime Corruption corrupts and the deeper one gets into the mire, the more desperate one becomes in defending the well from where he draws his booty. He will be prepared to use trick, treat and threats to keep his business. And since corruption, like stale food attract flies and worms, criminal syndicates are not very far from them. So do their violent means of doing business. The problem with the proliferation of illegal drugs can be linked solidly to corruption. How else do drug lords and pushers do their business under the noses of law enforcers and local government officials except that they pay-off this public servants or work in cahoots with them. Remember Mayor Mitra of Quezon Province? He was caught red handed transporting a ton of shabu using the town ambulance. This social ill has led to the commission of many a heinous crime is prospering and multiplying in every Barangay of this country because of corruption. RAPES, MURDERS, and KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM ARE TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR CORRUPTION.

8. High Cost of Doing Business It is sometimes beyond our imagination for a businessman to spend three full days in the crowded city hall of a highly urbanized city trying to get a business license. And he was just going to buy and sell eggs. How much more if he wants to operate a industrial project. If there are 20 government offices he needs to go through for various permits, licenses, certificates, approvals and signatures, he needs an entire army of fixers to handle them. Precious hours are lost among senior officers of the firm who have to wine and dine to the whims and caprices of government officials. Remember the stinking IMPSA and PIATCO deals? Those companies whose code of conduct does not permit them to provide bribes and pseudobribes end up spending tons of money just to end up deciding to leave the country in exasperation. On the other hand, many of those who stay to do business have gotten used to government people scratching their heads as they show up in their offices asking for all sorts of gifts for every known relatives of a mayor, congressman, senator, department secretary, bureau director or chief of police. What does the businessman do? He just passes on to his customers this extra cost incurred in doing business in the Philippines. Remember the Power Purchase Adjustment (PPA)? This is one bloody scheme that sucks us dry!!! 9. Loss of Investor Confidence As Judge W.H. Heath said, if we cannot manage our money and assets, how can we be expected to manage other peoples money? Investors demand that there be a reasonable level of assurance that they will get their investment back. That their investment will in fact make money. And that it will not be taken over by political forces. It becomes extremely challenging to attract investors to do business in a country where a fugitive from the FBI and convicted pedophile gets elected in Congress. Or where tax evasion case with very clear outcomes is lost to technicalities.