Of all the philosophical stunts performed, none reflects the shortage of decency and the abundance of cynicism in society than that of Diogenes, the Greek philosopher who begged for a living and made a virtue of poverty.
In broad day light, Diogenes carried a lit lamp and roamed the streets, claiming to be looking for an honest man.
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, looking for an honest man, has threatened to fire anyone of his cabinet ministers found guilty of corruption.
This came after a number of his parliamentarians were arrested for converting Constituency Development Funds to their own use.
But Mr Tsvangirai must be warned that “Diogenes looked for a human being but reputedly found nothing but rascals and scoundrels”.
Even in this day of strobe lights, Tsvangirai is going to be hard pressed to find a decent man.
We hold Members of Parliament in high esteem because we collectively asked them to be our messengers. And when they source or are given money to assist them to assist their constituencies, we should believe that they are equalisers who will do the right thing for the community.
With that money, they can help starving children, buy books for them, feed the elderly and the little ones at a crèche or improve a road here and there.
But then, how heartless does one have to be to be given such money and then turn around, put that money in their pocket and walk away?
Several of Zimbabwe’s Members of Parliament, across the political divide, have been implicated in the abuse of public funds meant for constituency development.
The perks they get, ranging from sitting, accommodation and transport allowances with free meals here and there, are not enough.
They want it all for themselves.
I fear that this practice, touching all political parties as it has, is presenting us with conclusive proof that the MDC, let alone ZANU-PF, ever cared for the people.
These are the people we voted for; they were once so observant as to see all the dirty games ZANU-PF MPs engaged in.
Now the MDC MPs are also passengers on the gravy train at the expense of the poor people in their constituencies.
This is organised crime.
When this shameful scandal broke, Tsvangirai said that any MDC member implicated in corrupt activities, including those found guilty of looting the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), will face the chop.
I have always lamented the integrity and calibre of our Members of Parliament, who are practically picked off the streets.
Nondescript men and women, shameless loudmouth praise singers, end up being ‘Honourable MPs’ at the expense of political decency and meaningful social activism.
A rogue, sweet-talking local can easily mesmerise people in his area and the very next day, presto, he is a Member of Parliament.
From being homeless to being paid a housing allowance; from walking in sneakers full of holes to driving a brand new 4 by 4 vehicle.
These are the men and women we expect to uphold the virtues of our nation and the decency of our political parties.
These are the men and women we look up to and hope for them to fight corruption that is destroying our nation.
These are the people we expect to sit down and map “the way forward” on our behalf.
In the end, our parliament is populated by people who are there for their own gain with no national interest.
Even the nation’s custodian of law and order, the Attorney General, issued a directive to stop arrests of MPs who abused these Community Development Funds. He wants to protect legislators from his ZANU-PF party.
These people cannot govern us or rule our nation; they are burdened with selfish desires and gather for themselves more than they can use. Most of our MPs and government officials lack principles. They are slaves of their own greed.
Asked about his trade, Diogenes, who had been sold into slavery, replied that he knew no trade but that of governing men. He had, of course, noticed the inadequacy in those in positions of authority.
Diogenes ended his answer with a plea to be sold to a man who needed a master, meaning the governed can govern better than the governors.
Yes, we can! Remember that on Election Day!
Corruption is a cancer that no nation needs. While we are still trying to come to terms with the missing CDF monies, we are hit with yet another financial Tsunami.
The same honourable men and women of power and authority who set our laws and regulations and who govern our country and run our nation are not paying their electricity bills at the same time the common people are having their electricity disconnected for non-payment.
It was revealed this week that President Mugabe owes the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority a whopping US $345,000 for electricity.
Isn’t Mugabe ashamed that, in spite of the fact that he and his family live virtually for free, with almost every tab picked up by the common people while he harasses national coffers, he does not pay utility bills to a parastatal teetering on the brink of financial collapse?
Come on Mr President, this is a matter of decency, please. A little shame could help.
About three weeks ago a man in Zimbabwe was sentenced to 10 years in jail for reconnecting electricity to his home after being disconnected for a paltry amount.
How did just four men, Mugabe and three of his senior officials run up a bill of more than a million dollars without being disconnected?
A look at the list of defaulters shows that big cats from all political parties are involved once again.
(See familiar names of defaulters on http://www.swradioafrica.com/2012/03/19/outrage-over-top-government-zesa-defaulters/).
Meanwhile, Reserve Bank Of Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono, has run up a telephone bill of $800 000? Why?
Politicians are merciless and reckless.
Even Tsvangirai recently admitted to having paid $5 000 towards his electricity bill, meaning that he, like many other top officials, was also defaulting on his payments.
The fact that such large amounts can be accumulated as arrears is an indication of an across the board practice adopted by top government officials.
We have lost direction and goodwill.
We applaud when our sons and daughters kill our political opponents, our own people. We have become a nation with animalistic, predatory instincts.
We have turned into beasts, killing to justify our transgressions against ourselves.
These monies owed are going to be written off by these overpaid, non-performing parliamentarians.
When elected officials from all political parties, including their leaders, behave in such a manner, who then is going to guard the guardians?
And we are talking about only one parastatal.
None of us has the authority to do to Zimbabwe what we are doing to this nation.
We, all of us, are going to pay heavily for letting these people do what they are doing to our nation.
The most frightening development is that the MDC is now being caught in the same nets of corruption that have always yielded ZANU-PF malcontents as the culprits milking our nation dry.
