News:

The Citizen Newspaper dated 14^th December 2013 reported on Parliament passing a strong resolution calling upon the government to take concrete steps against swindlers of public resources. The resolution was passed on Wednesday at the end of the debate on reports tabled by three oversight committees namely the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Local Authorities Accounts Committee (LAAC) and Budget Committee. Reflecting on the Controller and Auditor General's (CAG) reports for financial year which ended on June 2012, the reports exposed massive theft, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds and resources. The reports also revealed how the prevailing laws, especially those dealing with financial management and procurement, were disregarded by public officials resulting in gross abuse of the prevailing financial rules and regulations.

Comment:

The issues of corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds are matters that have taken root in Capitalism. This matter is manifest everywhere in the third world like Tanzania and even in developed countries regarded as wealthy and influential in the world. Various steps and many solutions are fronted to counter such acts including harsh laws, various resolutions, forming institutions to fight bribery, a special campaign to shame countries that are too corrupt etc. However, all these have failed to curb the menace. The saddest story being most of the time, institutions meant to fight for justice are in the frontline in bribery and corruption. As contained in the report of 2011 by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) of Tanzania, it clearly stated that the champions of corruption in Tanzania are the Police at 76% followed by the Judiciary at 71%. http://www.jamiiforums.com/jukwaa-la-siasa/194588-taasisi-vinara-wa-rushwa-tanzania.html

The sources of these problems are the weaknesses inherent in Capitalism as follows:

First, the basis of this ideology is benefit which makes everybody to fight to add to whatever he has at all costs without regard to the consequences. Second, on the part of public servants, as most are poorly paid while the cost of living rises, they end up in the same acts. Third, as this ideology has no necessity to actually serve the public, it leads to them failing to get basic needs which are their right. The result is they are forced to offer bribes to get those services in order to solve their daily problems. To a greater extend is not to forget the greed of multi-national companies which offer huge bribes in order to get tenders and enter into corrupt agreements to con by sponsoring exploitation of third world resources. As for politicians in the Democratic/Capitalist system, they are there for self-interest by collaborating with Capitalists during their period in power. Therefore, they harp on every opportunity for corruption, bribery and embezzlement so as to fill their pockets as fast as possible.

Islam fights all forms of illegal gains including bribery for the giver and taker. The Khilafah "Caliphate" State takes practical measures to provide better social services in an easy way so that all citizens access them be they Muslims or non-Muslims. On the side of poverty, there are no taxes like VAT (Value Added Tax) and others which today are the cause of the same products being expensive. This is without forgetting the solution through the Islamic Aqeedah on the issue of bribery, embezzlement and corruption by making man to constantly relating his worldly life with the Hereafter. This means that man will be accounted on how he obtained wealth in this world. If it was through illegal means, he deserves severe punishment.

Written for the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Masoud Msellem

Deputy Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir / East Africa