The question is asked in the middle of a long conversation with the United Nations Secretary-General’s special envoy to Mozambique. What’s up in Cabo Delgado? What is happening in the central region of that country? Does all this have to do with corruption?
Mirko Manzoni says no. It may be related to poverty, abandonment, the postponement of promises of a happy life. It is not explained – only and only – by the phenomenon of corruption.
Corruption in Africa is more widespread, less denounced, more accepted in the light of the quality of life that can be achieved, but it will not be more serious than in Switzerland, the country that served as the birthplace of this diplomat with over twenty years of experience and career.
Mozambique is, at this point, between two fires, or if we want to be more objective between two conflicts. To the north, in Cabo Delgado, violent attacks, which are carried out in the name of a religion and in the center, more violent attacks, which are carried out in the name of a power struggle in one of the two largest parties in the country, Renamo.
These are conflicts with different dimensions and objectives, but which could have the same basis … corruption.
Mirko Manzoni, António Guterres’ special envoy to Mozambique, does not deny it. Corruption exists. Where it diverges is in the explanation and dimension of the phenomenon.
For him, corruption in Africa is more obvious, it is more noticeable because everyone who faces it needs it more to survive. This discussion … he accepts. What it does not accept is that the dimension of the phenomenon is greater than that registered in Europe and in many countries of the world.
Is corruption genetic? The question is asked in a childish way, I mean, very direct and therefore disarming. There is no obvious answer.
Is corruption endemic? Is it part of everyday life? Does it condition day-to-day actions? Does it overturn the path that a country is supposed to take? Is it sufficiently condemned in the various geographies?
Only someone full of certainty will have a ready answer to all these questions. Age removes sufficient certainties for efficient answers to all these questions. I shut up. Just listen, see and read the news about what is happening in Portugal.
The point is that this is not all that we are talking about. The scale of corruption, regardless of whether it is white collar or dirty collar, is higher in Africa, Europe, or the United States … I don’t know.
I admit it is not genetic.
