The rampant mishandling of resources, misuse of public office, and position of trust, veiled methods for sanctioning or rewarding those who hold positions of public trust through a system of checks and balances among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and short of efficient systems of internal control of government including civil service standards and incentives, ethical codes, and administrative reviews are evident to partial system of accountability and poor governance.
The controversy demanding for immediate withdrawal of coalition forces paired with incompetency of government to carry forth efficiently the delicate political and socio-economic affairs of state might exacerbate the state of affairs. A number of influential personalities involved in money embezzlement from public offices, heinous crime against citizens and power misuse are given amnesty without being subjected to strict measures entailing answerability. This attitude of government has discouraged new investments with remnants intended to downsizing and withdrawing a dire omen for progress of country needs immediate reversal by practical measures.
The basic cause of corruption is monopoly and discretion without adequate accountability. This implies that the expanding role of government in development has placed the bureaucracy in a monopolistic position and has enhanced the opportunities for unlimited administrative discretion. Corruption results from excessive regulation, increased bureaucratic discretion, and lack of an adequate accountable and transparent system. The government intervening in the economy to provide a framework for economic and social activities – protection of personal and property rights, provision of public goods not supplied by the market, redistribution of income, and the provision of opportunities for education, health and employment. However, government intervention is also likely to expand the discretion of public officials to make decisions. It is the misuse of unchecked discretion that is one of the primary causes of corruption.
The causes of corruption are both economic and political. A study commissioned by the United Nations identifies five main causes (UNDP 1997). First, payments are made for goods and services that are available below the market price. Conditions for corruption are rife when the service is scarce, so that only those with the ability to pay the highest are able to get the service.
Second, bribes can serve as incentive payments for government officials to undertake their tasks. Firms and individuals are willing to pay in order to avoid delays in cases where, for example, a government department does not pay its bill on time, or services such as telephone connections and driver’s licenses are delayed. When fees are required for even routine services, the system can gravely undermine the legitimacy of the State.
Third, bribes can help to reduce transaction costs for firms when governments impose regulations, levy taxes and enforce criminal laws because payoffs tend to reduce the regulatory load. When a state has many inefficient regulations and imposes high level of taxes on businesses, bribes to avoid regulations and taxes may raise the efficiency of the firm. Thus, firms make an alliance with tax collectors or others responsible for enforcement of public regulation and enforcement to lower the cost for the firm, dividing the benefits between the firm or the tax payer and the public official. While such practices result in savings for the firm, the revenue losses for the State are enormous, limiting its ability to perform its tasks effectively.
Fourth, payments to obtain major contracts, concessions, and privatization of state-owned enterprises are the main cause of grand corruption, which has a significant impact on government budgets. Illegal payments are made by a firm to be included in the list of prequalified bidders, gain inside information, structure bidding specifications in their favor, and win the contract or to simply avoid quality controls. The privatization of state-owned enterprises increases opportunities for corruption in ways similar to large-scale infrastructure projects.
Finally, the business climate is negatively affected where the judiciary is perceived to be corrupt, and the legal and regulatory framework is not enforced. Businesses seek private arbitrators and use other mechanisms such as protection by organized crime to operate in the country. There are other causes of domestic corruption, which include loopholes in laws that define it, conflicts of interest on the part of those directly involved in decision-making, inadequate funding for the civil service, and weak systems of government auditing and monitoring.
Two agents’ free press and vibrant civil society can play crucial role unearthing the widespread corruption and power misuse. Afghanistan’s press is free with high restraints and insecurity for journalists to expose misuse of authority and public resources, where civil society organizations are faintly engaged in holding those in power accountable for their actions through advocacy and public awareness due to political pressure and life threats, and where political opposition exposes corrupt practices through the use of parliamentary and other forums but due to obstinacy of system they are left unheard. Consequently, the formation of an effective system of accountability stands vital for apposite functioning of democracy.
Accountability is the pillar of democracy and good governance that compels the state, the private sector, and civil society to focus on results, seek clear objectives develop effective strategies, monitor, and report on performance. It implies holding individuals and organizations responsible for performance measured as objectively as possible through transparent practices and integrity.
Transparency promotes openness of the democratic process through reporting and feedback, clear processes and procedures, and the conduct and actions of those holding decision-making authority. It makes understandable information and clear standards accessible to citizens. Integrity completes the continuum of accountability and transparency since it is essential to the concept of professional ethics. It is synonymous with incorruptibility or honesty. It requires that holders of public office should not place themselves under financial or other obligations to outside individuals or organizations that may influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Afghanistan needs more comprehensive reforms. There are no quick fixes. Experience suggests several rules for successful reforms: create a strong political will – a critical starting point for sustainable and effective anti corruption programs; focus on prevention and changing systems through changing values, creating a culture of professionalism and training, providing adequate pay and ensuring deterrence; identify government activities most prone to the problem of corruption and review both substantive law and administrative procedures; enforce accountability mechanisms and learn from good practices and examples of others; enact comprehensive anti-corruption legislation; establish broad ownership of reforms, among others, by creating strong partnership with the civil society and the private sector; and make corruption “high risk” and “low profit.”
The prediction of political pundits can be averted given tough political decision are taken in the interest of the country accompanying reforms leading to clean, corruption free and progressive Afghanistan waiting ahead.