Corruption: Is it Out of Control? [Archives:1999/45/Law & Diplomacy]

By: Mohammed Hatem Al-Qadhi, 
Managing Editor, Yemen Times 
Corruption is defined as the misuse of public power, office or authority for private benefit through bribery, extortion, influence peddling, nepotism, fraud, speed money or embezzlement. 
In most countries corruption is a criminal offense. But the real crime is that everybody suffers, particularly the poor and vulnerable, including women, who can not afford to pay bribes even for the bare necessities and whose share in economic wealth is already scant. Corruption also damages economics, the environment and, in developing countries, can slow development because it diverts resources and discourages international aid and foreign and domestic investment. In extreme cases, law and order can fall apart as rules and regulations fail to be enforced. Crime, violence and social unrest can follow. 
The question of corruption in Yemen is the major headache of the Yemeni society. In fact, it is an epidemic virus devouring everything that might lead to the development of this society. It has generated a lot of problems for Yemen. This is because corruption denies the poor their share. It increases poverty, breeds injustice and violates human rights. It also causes political discontent and social unrest. It diverts resources, reduces income from tax and customs fees, increases the cost of the contracts, lowers quality, disturb policies, reduces investment and subverts companies and NGOs. In short, corruption damages the economy and can even reverse development. 
Corruption in its various forms has taken its toll of the development of the Yemeni society. We can visibly notice that bribery, nepotism, favoritism, mediation, looting of the public wealth, etc. are devastating all the potentialities of development in the country. Moreover, these evils have become a daily routine for the majority in the Yemeni society. One feels that s/he can not get employed or have any other procedure done unless one of the aforementioned evils are applied. Visiting the public offices, one get staggered by the perverted situation in these institutions. 
Bribery takes various names in Yemen like “Haq bin Hady or Haq Al-Qat ( bribe) or whatever else. What is more unfortunate is that the rule in Yemen is that most of the public servants are corrupt and that only a select few are honest. These honest guys are even accused of being foolish and persons lacking alert minds and manliness. So, in such a chaotic situation and absence of accountability, we find that some people become wealthy in a flash, having lavishly fashionable cars and villas. 
The Central Department of Control and Auditing has recently issued a report in which it put the number of violations issues of the public wealth at 66 cases only in the first half of this year. The wasted money in these cases soared to YR 5 billion. What a pity! 
From time to time such cases of wasting and looting of the public treasury are disclosed to the public opinion. Unfortunately, in the absence of accountability and a fair and independent judiciary not influenced by the big guys, corruption piles up constantly and corrupts become free riders. They are never held accountable. Rather, they get promoted because they are protected by people at the power center and decision-making core. They have gone to the extreme in wasting the public wealth and looting very big chunks of land. 
The government of Yemen, in collaboration with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, embarked on the policy of the economic and administrative reform in 1995. The implementation created a big fuss and affected the Yemeni people considerably. However, since that date the situation is deteriorating gradually; poverty and unemployment have soared up dramatically. I should say that the Yemeni people will tolerate the harsh outcomes of the program as long as it pays off. But because corruption still predominates and is eating up everything, the reforms seem to scramble. 
The government has been lifting the subsidies on foodstuffs and petrol gradually which, of course, increase the economic hardships of the people. Moreover, it is now privatizing most of the public institutions, particularly the successful ones. The most important example is the Industrial Bank of Yemen. 
The anti-corruption campaign as stated by President Saleh is a good omen. It shows that he is fully aware of the hazards of corruption on development. This new blood in the president, moreover, shows the necessity for change to salvage the country. However, I believe the corrupt and crooked officials at the decision-making core will be affected by the change considerably. Therefore, they will nip this effort by the president in the bud. They will not let the man do it. They are a pain in the neck. 
Therefore, to ensure the success of his endeavor, the president should start his campaign against corruption by eradicating the corrupt guys at the power center. He should nip these rotten apples off and replace them by honest people of new blood who are willing to back him up in his effort. Yemen is full of such people who are willing to breathe a new life into Yemen. They have their own ideas that can positively contribute to push the endeavor ahead. It is in this way only that corruption can be controlled. As I said in the article of last week, the price of such an effort will cost a lot and face many challenges. However, it will have good and positive outcomes. President Saleh can do it and I am sure that all the Yemeni people will support him wholeheartedly. Otherwise, in the existence of the corrupt lobby, his efforts will not be able to hit the nail on the head and corruption will continue to be out of control.
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