Writer: Ayuel Mangok Angui
Corruption is one of the great enemies that affects the development of a country in any part of the world. Many countries in Asia and Africa are living below the poverty line, and this is because powerful people and the authorities in these continents have involved themselves in harmful corruption by looting all the national resources that are supposed to be used to solve all the problems that are facing the common citizens in these nations in the world.
According to the Bible, we are all imperfect beings; however, we are shaped by the constitutional law to be perfect in doing things for the sake of others in any environment of being.
People can be honest in doing things entrusted to them under their responsibility when the government establishes a law that guides and directs the people to focus on doing the right things that can bring positive change to their country.
But in South Sudan, the government has never passed a law that holds any of us accountable for what we have done against the constitution of the country.
Corruption has become another opportunity in which the people of South Sudan amass the national wealth and enrich themselves with it.
That is why all the government employees are interested in stealing money and going forever, despite the future accountability that is going to be held against the corrupt leaders.
Because of rampant corruption and lack of accountability for any mess caused by government officials, the bottom and the top managers of the country disappear with millions and billions of United States dollars, which are supposed to be invested in any sector of business that is thought to benefit the nation, and no one sues them in the court of law for them to be held responsible for the crime they have committed against the country.
The corruption which has been practised by the corrupt citizens of South Sudan has not only affected national development, but it has also created social insecurity in the country at large.
In the nation where corruption has become part of life for survival, peace and unity are not achieved because the marginalised youth involve themselves in waging the civil war against the corrupt government.
To make the matter worse, corruption has become a teachable subject to be taught to the youth in the community. When the president appoints a leader to any ministerial position and employs him or her to work for the common good of the nation, he or she is advised by relatives and friends in order to invest heavily in corruption rather than national development.
Hence, corruption has become a continuous part of life in South Sudan, and it is going to be inherited by the elders from one generation to another generation if care is not taken by the citizens of South Sudan to stop it before it is inherited by young children.
As a citizen, I have fully understood the reason why people steal money, because the money does not speak to the people about the reason why we steal it. But we have to be cautious, because the day will come when God will miraculously empower the money of South Sudan to speak to us by miracle when we steal it for our own benefit.
The day of the miraculous event in which the money will speak will be a great shame to all of us who used to steal the South Sudanese pounds, which are supposed to be invested for the benefit of South Sudan.