Corruption has become synonymous with our existing system and is pushing our nation to a dead end. It has gained roots in our country because of wrong decisions and weak policies of the governments. The international community and credible Afghan public office bearers have been criticizing the government of Afghanistan for growing corruption in the government institutions, and lack of strict measures and governments to fight graft in the country.
The dismal state of affairs depicts the extent of corruption is inversely growing with the immediate justice delayed and accountability and indiscriminate application of law denied. As long as injustice and poverty prevail one cannot hope to eradicate corruption. A country based on the rule of law and equality caters for the genuine needs and wants of its members is deficient of such problems. But a country like Afghanistan where the rule of law is absent, the vacuum is filled by the rule of annoyance and misappropriation. Undoubtedly, corruption has threatened efforts of enforcing laws in a society and strengthened cruel segments and suppressed the poor.
As there is absence of political will and administrative accountability, corruption in this piece of land is gaining irreversible prominence and cultural orientation. Everything goes on in a haphazard way ruling out the chances of slender betterment to be expected imminently. Does it make a difference for our political elites that our beloved motherland is ranked amongst the world's most corrupt countries in the former survey released by Transparency International (TI)? For how long the masses keep on expecting the politicians abandon their deeds and come forth for genuine reforms? There are multiple confidential answer seeking queries to be answered in this regard.
Corruption attacks the very foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quandary. Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the start-up costs, required because of corruption.
Regretfully the respective departments of oversight and anti-corruption of Afghanistan is weak enough to collect evidences against the corrupt officials and can’t undertake the prosecution of those accused of such ill-deeds given the office of oversight and anti-corruption lacks the legitimate authority to act independently against the corrupt individuals and officials.
The prevalent disease of corruption needs to be curtailed and prevented iron handedly before it turns epidemic. Till date no major steps seemingly have been taken by the Afghan government to fight corruption, despite numerous reports suggest that high level government officials of Afghanistan involved in corruption cases and the situation is alarming. The government must revisit its policies and bring vibrant reforms.
The people have to play a role as well in this regard. They need to realize that without their role any effort to eradicate corruption would never be successful. There is no doubt that the role of the government institutions in this regard are more important but if they people start discouraging corruption in their daily lives, the situation would improve to a large extent. Unfortunately, we are in a situation wherein the people do not even feel awkward or bad while being involved in corruption; they have accepted it as an integral part of their lives and are totally satisfied with it. Such a scenario is really dreadfull in the life of a nation that is striving hard to stand on its own and carryout gigantic efforts to overcome political and economic stability. Therefore, it is vital for the nation as a whole to challenge the giant of corruption and wrestle is down before it devours the entire nation.