More cause for celebrations as corruption worsens

Dear judge Mbadwa,

I hear you were in a celebratory mood with the rest of the country at the weekend, My Lord, for another milestone that Nyasaland has attained.

It is not every day that Nyasaland’s exploits on the corruption perception front get global recognition as is the case now.

What a change from the sad dirges of amateur mourners hired to lament that people with rights to vent their anger over an alleged injustice during the week were disrespecting a man called John Answer in their protests.

My Lord, the 10th edition of the 2019 Global Corruption Barometer has interesting revelations; clearly indicating what sort of corruption climate we are heralding as we move forward with our business in Nyasaland.

My Lord, I have always regarded you, the honourable judge of The Tribunal, as one of the few judicial officers with integrity remaining.

Now that the 2019 Global Corruption Barometer says that the perception of people who think that magistrates and judges are corrupt is at 41 percent from 22 in 2015, is there a genuine reason that I should not be worried that our justice delivery system might be dispensing injustice after all?

My Lord, I hear others might be arguing that a perception is just that—what people think—and not the whole truth. Well and good, but it shows that the majority of the Nyasas do not have confidence in our courts just as they can no longer trust politicians.

My Lord, I hope to see you celebrating this jump at your next Sherry Party after all an achievement is an achievement whether positive or negative.

If the majority 47 percent feel the presidency is corrupt with the police finding themselves at 54 percent, do we have anywhere to run to?

This is a country which, without due diligence, procured obsolete oxcart-driven ploughs christened tractors from Gujarat, let them rot a bit before giving them away to selected individuals. When queried by the vigilant Ombudsman, all that was offered were loads and loads of rebuttals only to wake up another day with an apology. Admission of guilt is there but nobody wants to take responsibility, really?

The Gujarat ploughs mysteriously found themselves here and were mysteriously gotten rid of. At least that’s the impression the apology is creating.

My Lord, I don’t think the whole court process that was initiated by Marita Wadzuma should end at an apology when we know very well that were she not that unrelenting, this matter would have been buried like the rest.

My Lord, it is acts like these that are feeding into the perception that corruption is permeating every sector of society like a virus.

I believe Nyasas have a constitutional right to cry for being saddled with a $50 million debt courtesy of some irresponsible officers.

My Lord, will your court authorise that I pay contractual mourners who will help me cry for our oxcart-ploughs lest I be construed as bribing people?

Of course don’t forget to celebrate the corruption perception growth in style even in your chamber.

Regards,

Nzika Yeniyeni